In a recent best practice report, Empowering Supply Chain Through Data Analytics, HBI’s Supply Chain Academy spotlighted the efforts of several hospitals and health systems to gather and apply data to their supply chain processes. From inventory methodologies, IT integration, utilizing dashboards, and creating transparency in the operating room, these organizations have found strategies for making their data actionable.
One organization, Temple Health puts their data into practice through the use of a comprehensive dashboard, which tracks a number of KPIs, including contracting, data management, procurement, and materials management. The KPI tracking allows Temple Health to identify trends in processes, workloads, and performance, giving supply chain the robust information it needs to adjust their course and create a roadmap for the future.
It is common for physicians to be unaware of product costs, so they fail to factor that into their decision making. While supply chain wants to ensure physicians are getting products they are comfortable with that deliverable quality patient care, in today’s value-based climate, it is important that clinical and supply chain staff are able to openly discuss the impact of product costs on an organization.
Massachusetts General Hospital uses data tracking to gain insight into supply utilization in the operating room. By understanding when and how many items are being used on a per case basis, supply chain was able to work with physicians to streamline case carts and drive standardization efforts. Massachusetts General enabled its clinical staff to streamline preference cards and more easily track the movement of items with a radio-frequency identification-enabled system. The organization significantly reduced case costs and minimized wasted product.
Additionally, hospitals are looking to improve relationships with their vendors through collaboration and information sharing. One example of a successful initiative is a collaboration between the Upper Midwest Consolidated Services Center (UMCSC) and Mayo Clinic, who have worked together to create a web-based service that gives suppliers a better understanding of their business relationships with GPOs and providers. The system is designed to drive competition and innovation and also gives providers a clear view of any contract compliance issues.
Some organizations are also starting to apply their data to predictive analytics programs. With predictive analytics hospitals and health systems can leverage the data they are gathering from multiple information systems, such as the EHR and ERP platforms, to guide better procurement and inventory management decisions. Predictive analytics can enable hospitals to respond to community factors, which may affect product demands and also provide a systemwide view of where and when products are needed the most, helping to minimize stock-outs and expired products.
The modern healthcare supply chain is data rich, but much conversation is still needed to know how to successfully organize and capitalize on this data. As organizations conceive and implement innovative data analytics programs, the industry as a whole benefits from the unique possibilities afforded by the plethora of information now available.
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