11 minute read
IDN Opportunities
from REP April 20
How Well Do You Know Your Customers? Part III
Editor’s note: Do you know what your IDN customers’ priorities are? Do you, your products and services meet their needs today? How about tomorrow? In the past two issues, Repertoire has offered readers a “crash course” in health system supply chain by presenting a few highlights from the 2019 “Ten People to Watch in Healthcare Contracting,” an annual feature in Repertoire’s sister publication, the Journal of Healthcare Contracting. Here are notes on the final Ten.
John Thompson
Position: Senior Vice President, Sourcing Operations, Vizient Inc., Irving, Texas
In the past two years: “I have been working with certain segments of the Vizient sourcing and consulting teams, such as purchased services and food, [to offer] contracts on the business side of care that can lower costs, and subject matter experts with data, insights and expertise to help with implementation, so that savings are realized and sustained.”
On the docket: “One of our bigger projects is building out our human resources and workforce solutions verticals. Vizient has a comprehensive offering of solutions, such as insurance products and employee benefits, contract labor and labor consulting/utilization.”
Thoughts about the supply chain management profession “I have been fortunate to have had some extraordinary leaders and mentors who have helped me understand that success in the healthcare supply chain requires a consistent focus on
next-generation ideas grounded in historical knowledge. That approach and their coaching have helped me look for opportunities to more effectively engage internal and external stakeholders as the company and the industry have evolved. … I have also become a better listener, which has helped me understand how our stakeholders define value and has reshaped how I partner with them to achieve their goals.”
Future challenge for the profession: “It is critical that supply chain professionals coming into this industry understand how and why decisions are made in their organization, what data is required, who needs to be included in the process, and how to effectively communicate across the organization when decisions affecting supplies and products are made. I encourage supply chain professionals at every level to take advantage of the educational opportunities offered by various organizations to increase understanding of not just the latest technology, but also the strategies that are required to successfully lead change.”
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Michael Gray
Position: System Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer, SSM Health, St. Louis, Missouri
In the past two years: Consolidated the master data management teams and non-pharma buyers under one management structure. “It has allowed us to be consistent and to provide comprehensive quality data into the Enterprise Resource Planning and Electronic Health Records systems.” Transformed a multiplepurchasing-organization structure within SAP into one systemwide structure, eliminating 124,000 duplicate items. (SSM Health had been operating as three different geographies when SAP was first deployed.)
On the docket: Continuing to work systemwide with physician leaders and others to reduce unnecessary variation in vendors, products, etc. “We should be able to measure which products are used where, and which products lead to favorable outcomes for the majority of patients. It’s exciting getting all these groups together. Rather than
Sparkle Barnes
Position: Chief Strategy Officer, Health Center Partners of Southern California, San Diego
In the past two years: Assisted Health Center Partners in the establishment of a clinically integrated network – Integrated Health Partners of Southern California – in June 2015, which is designed to help its community health center members be successful in a value-based model by managing population health, improving efficiencies and performances in managed care
calling them ‘value analysis groups,’ I call them ‘solution groups.’”
Thoughts about the supply chain management profession: “The old saying, ‘I know what I’m doing, so let me do it,’ isn’t effective. I’ve never seen an effort where end users, physicians and executive leaders were engaged, and we did not come up with a better result. The input, guidance and insights provided by end users, people in the field and suppliers always make the process better.”
Future challenge for the profession: “[The next generation of supply chain executives] will have to be operationally sound in order to understand the flow of information, products and cash. Managing ‘technology creep’ is probably the biggest challenge going forward. A number of my peers have told me, ‘We have gone through savings initiatives, but those savings instantly disappear when new, more expensive technologies are introduced and integrated into our systems as the ‘next shiny object.’”
and care transitions, integrating data and improving clinical performance, and providing high-quality care to lower income and uninsured patients.
On the docket: Completing a threeyear strategic plan by June 30, 2020, which will position the organization to serve an estimated doubling of its membership to more than 10,000 organizations.
on an enterprise-wide role as chief strategy officer for the Family of Companies was transformational in how I lead CNECT. In the CSO role, I am on the front lines of policy, operational, and clinical decision support discussions in transitioning a care model from fee-for-service to value-based reimbursement, enabling me to bring a perspective and experience from the front-line into CNECT to better position our members.”
Future challenge for the profession: “The transition to value-based care is not slowing down. If anything, it is accelerating. The future generation of supply chain professionals will need to be both experts in their fields and partners with their management teams as those organizations are more and more challenged to improve care quality and [achieve] cost reductions through value-based reimbursement models.”
Todd Larkin
Position: Chief Operating Officer, Intalere, St. Louis, Missouri In the past two years: “I joined Intalere in the second half of 2017, when the contracting organization was undergoing a transformation, primarily focused on adopting Intermountain’s best practices. One of the most rewarding aspects of that initiative was implementing changes to people, processes, and technology.” On the docket: “We are constantly focused on improving the competitiveness of our portfolio. However, this doesn’t just mean reduction in the price of a market basket of SKUs. Rather, we’re pulling different value levers [and] capturing and sharing clinical best practices from across our membership. Given our broad and diverse membership, we’re finding that we can capture best practices from throughout the healthcare continuum and share that information across our client base.” Thoughts about the supply chain management profession: “I’ve been fortunate to work with some very talented people I’ve learned from. One of the key aspects I’ve focused on is building strategic plans across categories of spend and working with senior executives to find the best way my team can support their strategic initiatives. I think the key is to view every day as an opportunity to reflect and learn something new. It’s also important to constantly focus on what value you can provide and how that’s aligned with the larger goals of the organization.” Future challenge for the profession: “The next generation will need to … be relentless in driving change. There is a lot of resistance to change in healthcare, and it’s understandable when you have potential impact on patients’ lives. However, the next generation [cannot] become frustrated as they try to implement these new concepts and innovations. They’ve got to be relentless in helping to transform healthcare and capture the value of these new approaches and innovations.” One of the key aspects I’ve focused on is building strategic plans across categories of spend and working with senior executives to find the best way my team can support their strategic initiatives. I think the key is to view every day as an opportunity to reflect and learn something new.
Chances are you spend a lot of time in your car. Here’s something that might help you appreciate your home-away-from-home a little more.
Automotive-related news
Offline maps Whether you are at home or traveling, it’s wise to download offline maps for the general area, points out The New York Times “Personal Tech.” If you drive into an area with no cell reception, Google Maps will switch to the offline maps to help you navigate to your destination.
Driverless vehicles? Not so fast. The National Transportation Safety Board in late February held a public hearing to determine the probable cause of the March 23, 2018, fatal crash of a Tesla Model X in Mountain View, California. The crash on U.S. 101 killed its driver, Walter Huang, who was using Tesla Inc.’s advanced driver-assistance system known as Autopilot. According to performance data downloaded from the vehicle, Huang was using traffic-aware cruise control and autosteer lane-keeping assist. The 38-year-old Apple Inc. software engineer had Autopilot engaged continuously in the last 18 minutes and 55 seconds before his car struck a highway barrier at approximately 71 mph. The vehicle
provided two visual and one auditory alerts for the driver to place his hands on the steering wheel, according to a preliminary report. The driver’s hands were not detected on the steering wheel in the six seconds before the crash, the NTSB said. Records reviewed by the board also found Huang was playing a video game on his iPhone before the crash, though it could not determine whether he was actively engaged with the game or just holding the device. New to Google Maps Google Maps announced a major redesign for Android and iPhone, reports CNBC. The redesign focuses on five icons on the bottom of the screen, three of which are new: 1) “Saved” shows you the restaurants, bars, landmarks and other places you’ve bookmarked. 2) “Contribute” makes it faster to add reviews or post photos of the places you’ve been. 3) “Updates” is a quick way to see what’s popular around you based on recommendations from “local experts” or information outlets such as Infatuation. Your parents should know Driver safety requires more than understanding road signs and traffic laws, says Mayo Clinic. As you get older, you’ll likely notice physical changes that can make certain actions — such as turning your head to look for oncoming traffic or braking safely — more challenging. Still, older drivers can remain safe on the road. A few tips: 1) Stay physically active. It improves your strength and flexibility, which in turn can improve safety by making it easier to turn the steering wheel, look over your shoulder, and make other movements while driving and parking. 2) Schedule regular vision and hearing tests. 3) Know your medications. Many drugs, including pain medications, sleep medications, antihistamines and muscle relaxants can affect driver safety, even when you’re feeling fine. 4) Understand your limitations. For example, if your hands hurt when gripping the steering wheel, use a steering wheel cover that makes holding and turning the wheel more comfortable. Ask your doctor for a referral to an occupational therapist. Don’t let the wheels come off Ford says it has developed a 3D-printed locking wheel nut made using a biometric signature based on the driver’s recorded voice in a bid to prevent wheel and tire thefts, according to Autoblog. Engineers record the driver’s voice for at least one second, then use software to convert the resulting soundwave into a physical pattern that can be 3D printed. They then convert the pattern into a circle and use the design for the indentation and key on the locking nut. The nut and key are designed as a single piece, then 3D printed using acid and corrosionresistant stainless steel. What’s more, inside the nut are unevenly spaced ribs and indentations to prevent a thief from making a wax imprint of the pattern, since the wax breaks when it’s pulled from the nut. As you get older, you’ll likely notice physical changes that can make certain actions — such as turning your head to look for oncoming traffic or braking safely — more challenging.
