Adopting a clinically integrated supply chain strategy in your Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) can improve efficiency, eliminate silos, boost patient satisfaction and increase savings.
However, creating a clinically integrated supply chain requires culture change, clinician education and data. The key steps to achieve this are:
- Culture change. Clinical supply chain integration is not a single project or goal. Rather, it is a cultural shift in how an ASC operates. There must be a broad goal of delivering quality care and efficient care at a lower cost. It is imperative to have a culture of clinically acceptable but cost- efficient products. Senior leadership must set the example.
- Clinician education. Clinicians must know the cost of the supplies they use and must buy into using a formulary rather than individual physician preferences.
- Data and analytics. Leaders in a clinically integrated supply chain use data to make standardization decisions. They monitor contract compliance, make adjustments and work to constantly cut costs.
ASCs can implement specific practices and tailored processes to optimize their clinically integrated supply chains. To read more on implementation strategies, view the full “Supply Chain Optimization in a Complex Environment” infographic.