Transcript Value of Central Purchasing

Value of Central Purchasing
Ed Schryer, CPhT
Pharmacy Buyer
Intermountain Healthcare
Background
Intermountain
Healthcare
• Integrated Delivery
Network
• Located in Salt Lake City,
Utah
• 23 Hospitals
• Over 200 Clinics
• Home Health
• Health Plan
Supply Chain
Organization
• Formed in 2006
• Centralize Purchasing
Functions
“The Supply Chain Organization…ensures
quality products and services are sourced,
purchased, and delivered to Intermountain
Healthcare’s hospitals, clinics and divisions,
using principles of supply chain management.
The Supply Chain Organization helps
Intermountain get the best value for the dollars it
spends and allows the company to devote more
resources to patient care.
The Supply Chain Organization assists in
improving operational effectiveness and helping
Intermountain as it aspires to provide
extraordinary care in all its dimensions.”
- Intermountain Healthcare
Change of System
Pharmacy Purchasing
Previous State
• Pharmacy Buyer @ Hospital
• Sent requisitions to Materials Buyer for all non-routine purchased
items
• Blood products
• Drop shipped items
• Items out of stock at our DC that had to be transferred
Current State
• Inventory Specialist @ Hospital
• Place all Pharmacy Orders
• Central Pharmacy Buyer
• Receives Orders for non-routine items and places those orders
Value of Central Purchasing
Pharmacy Purchasing
Standardize Products
Contract Compliance
Manage Market Shortage Items
Meet Separation of Duties Requirement
Avoid “Hard-to-Find” Industry
Provide Valuable Information to Corporate Pharmacy and
P&T Committee to Facilitate Effective Decision Making
Hospital Comments
“The pharmacy buyer team at
Intermountain Healthcare have
provided a tremendous service to our
22 hospitals as well as our physician
group. Their research and support of
the local inventory specialist are
invaluable in helping the organization
obtain the medications that are
necessary for our patients. They have
an active role in our P and T process as
well as helping us with adherence to
contract purchasing and finding hard to
purchase products. We are fortunate to
have individuals that are very serious
about their responsibilities and are a
great asset to the company.”
“I never have any problems at
all. You always let me know if there is
a shortage, or if our distributor has
received short-supply items in their
warehouse.
I think you are awesome!”
“I think you folks are fantastic. We
make 1 easy call or 1 simple email and
you guys seem to have the world at
your fingertips because you take care
of the order and we get the stuff we
need. Thanks a bunch!!”
Hospital Comments
“The advent of the corporate buyer has been a
very positive experience for us at our hospital.
Being able to contact one individual to find all
pharmaceuticals not available from our
wholesaler has streamlined our process and
help us reduce costs. Also, the information the
corporate buyer conveys to us about shortages
is very useful and helps us inform the staff and
physicians about shortages before they become
critical.
The corporate buyer is now an indispensible
part in our buying strategy.”
“I would have to say I really like having a central
buyer team. I like the fact that they interact directly
with the manufacturers and can devote time to
issues like the shortages and backorders.
Purchasing can be so difficult that if I had to do all
that they do on top of what I do at the facility level I
would not be able to keep up with my daily
responsibilities.
The central buyer team also has a chance to work
closely with each other and can help each others’
facilities with the purchasing challenges that we all
face. The inventory specialists at each facility do
not always have the time or opportunity to talk to
each other so it is harder to help each other or
know of each others’ needs. I think having a
central team saves the corporation time and money
for each facility.”