As an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC), you’re at the heart of care. Ensure you don’t miss a beat when implementing strategies for cost savings opportunities and operational efficiency.
Penny Williams, Sr. Consultant of Clinical Operations for Cardinal Health, weighs in on the importance of looking for strategies to improve your facility, “With healthcare costs rising at unsustainable rates, facilities are searching for efficient ways to optimize supply chain management. SKU optimization is a crucial opportunity for cost savings, both operationally as well as clinically. This initiative adds value by allowing healthcare facilities or systems, greater contract negotiating power and supply chain efficiency.” While it may take some time and energy to review your products and align with your clinicians, decreasing your SKU count can lead to many benefits for your facility. Here are four advantages to keep in mind:
- Save storage space in the OR
Identify and combine all supplies needed into a single pack — from OR setup to cleanup. Include single sterile items that you might otherwise take from the storeroom during a procedure. - Reduce shelf space in your storeroom
By consolidating all of the items you need for each procedure pack, you’ll minimize the need to keep bulk stock in your storeroom. An organized storeroom creates a streamlined process for clinicians. “SKU optimization, standardization, and efficiency contributes to improved accuracy and workflow when locating and picking inventory”, said Williams. - Spend less time managing supplies
Create all-in-one procedure packs and clinicians won’t need to leave the OR to get extra items from the storeroom. Caitlin Thalheimer, Regional Director of Ambulatory Surgery Centers for Cardinal Health, stated, “Improving the flow of your supply chain and reducing space by consolidating SKU’s provides even further savings by decreasing the amount of time spent needed to manage materials. If you can increase your workflow efficiency you can utilize your time to focus on revenue increasing activities instead of managing a complex list of materials.” Clinicians can focus more on patients instead of picking supplies. - Lower your inventory carrying costs
When you standardize by product and manufacturer — and consolidate supplies in packs — you’ll reduce both SKU count and inventory levels. “If you can evaluate your materials and consolidate clinically equivalent SKU’s it can also provide savings buy aggregating your purchasing power,” Thalheimer shared.
Decreasing your ASC’s SKU count can make a big difference in your facility, “Overall it helps to simplify and save time when ordering and managing your supplies,” said Thalheimer. For more tips on how to increase savings and efficiencies, visit our Ambulatory Surgery Center webpage.