INFECTION PREVENTION AND SUPPLY CHAIN LEADERS
BY DANIEL BEAIRD
Good Working Relationships Piedmont Healthcare’s supply chain and IP teams relied on relationships for quick approvals and supply opportunities.
Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare’s supply chain team has always had a
surface disinfectant when disinfectant
good working relationship with its IP team, according to Pam Esper, executive director
wipes were out of supply. “IP created
of strategic sourcing and contracting for Piedmont Healthcare. That relationship was
the educational training on how to mix
very important during the past year.
it and other key pieces of information, and supply chain provided the materials,” Esper said.
“When we had to deviate from our
the pandemic. “We accepted them and
Piedmont’s IP team created a run-
standard products, we had a process for
then IP was asked to approve,” Esper
ning list of all nontraditional items to be
quick approvals so that we didn’t miss a
explained. “If they didn’t meet the clinical
reviewed, according to Esper. “What was
supply opportunity,” said Esper.
specs, we tried to find another use – like
and wasn’t approved was listed by catego-
facemasks for visitors.”
ry in case we needed to purchase more.
Piedmont, with 11 hospitals and over 550 locations, secured additional warehouse space during the early stages of the pandemic that it still uses today. “We are still using it as we build permanent resiliency into our stocking methodology,” Esper said. “We have also committed to supply assurance programs that have been working out very well for us.” Procedural and surgical masks were a challenge to procure for Piedmont Healthcare early last year, but it was able to find
That list kept us from repeating the same
“We’ve been able to make it through by having approved substitutes or moving product between hospitals until stock arrives.” – Pam Esper, executive director of strategic sourcing and contracting, Piedmont Healthcare
steps over again,” Esper said. “As we move back to more normal operations, we’ll continue to find the best products to ensure our patients’ safety.” As the health system moves back to those normal operations, the majority of PPE supply is getting back to a healthy status, according to Esper. “But what we’re finding is random products are being delayed mostly due
stock from several secondary suppliers un-
to transportation and shipping issues,”
til its distributors recovered. “Supply chain
she said. “We’ve been able to make it
obtained samples that were then approved
The health system purchased gloves
through by having approved substitutes
by IP,” Esper said. “Masks are a part of
through a standard distributor and an IP-
or moving product between hospitals
our PPE Assurance program.”
approved secondary supplier. When gloves
until stock arrives.”
Like many hospitals, Piedmont used
were restrained during the height of the
Meanwhile, Piedmont’s IP team has
3M’s N95 masks that were hard to find.
pandemic, Esper said Piedmont purchased
been busy with its vaccine clinics and
“Working closely with our employee
from a few smaller distributors that its sup-
reloading a pipeline of initiatives. “We
health and IP teams, we sourced two
ply chain team obtained samples from and
started planning for the future last May,”
other makers of FDA-certified masks, fit
were approved by its IP team.
Esper said. “Knowing that we were ex-
tested employees to these new masks and
pecting fall and winter surges, we worked
now have three manufacturers available
with our operations team on building key
for the clinical staff,” Esper said. Piedmont also received many donations of PPE and other supplies throughout
10
IP team created its own solution Piedmont’s IP and facilities teams designed an approved spray-on solution for
supply stockpiles.” “We feel good about what we’ve put in place,” Esper concluded.
June 2021 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
