Value Analysis Tools
Robert W. Yokl
10 Best Practices to Selecting Value Analysis & Utilization Management Tools Robert W. Yokl, Sr. VP, Operation—SVAH Solutions Attaining the Most Value Out of Your Tools The value analysis (VA) and supply utilization management (SUM) world is becoming more challenging day after day. The biggest challenge for supply chain and VA professionals is to find the true tools to free up valuable time to focus on the tough areas in our value analysis programs. With over 16 years of providing such software systems to the healthcare marketplace, I thought I would share a few rules that would assist you in acquiring the best tools to aid in your challenge. 1. Get Over the Shiny Things – Marketing materials, “over the top” PowerPoint slides and glitzy charting does not make a good or even great software tool. When you are paying good money for these tools, it has to be software that is functional and easy for the end-user. Look for tools that give you the competitive edge in supporting your VA Program’s goals & objectives. 2. Audit Yourself and Your Program – What is chewing up most of your time in working with your value analysis projects and teams? For example, if you are spending most of your time on detailed value analysis analytics using spreadsheets, then look for tools to automate these processes for you. If you are spending the majority of time in managing meetings, then look for features that will help you manage your agenda, minutes and action items. 3. Don’t Be a One Feature Buyer – Sometimes software systems do just one thing but in the case of value analysis and utilization management systems there are multiple functionalities that you should be looking for in your software selection criteria. Remember, if you buy software for just one feature, you will eventually end up buying multiple solutions for all the VA tasks you need to manage. The result is that you pay more money and must log into 5-7 different systems. To top it off, none of these “solutions” talk to one another and you end up spending more time piecing together data to just get through one value analysis study. 4. What else do you get with the software? – What other benefits does that software company provide you beyond the implementation of the system? What value added knowledge, features, coaching and/or support can they provide as part of their contracted software. Easy way to find this out, ask. 5. Figure Out What You Need Not What You Want – Psychology books related to “why people do what they do” often conclude that people do not buy what they need but in many cases they buy what they want. This is great in our personal lives where we can get leather seats with seat warmers in our upgraded SUV’s. Unfortunately, when it comes to healthcare, every dollar is a challenge to get approved. Take a moment to step back and determine “what is a value added spend that will result in short/long-term outcomes resulting in sustainability”? 6. What are your absolute “must haves”? – Don’t bother looking at software systems on the marketplace that don’t meet all of your functional requirements---Must Haves. Would you buy a car without wheels or a steering column? The same applies to your requirements for a software system to achieve your goals. Don’t waste money on a system that only meets 2 of your 5 required functions. If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.
Volume 6/Issue 2
Healthcare Value Analysis & Utilization Management Magazine
22
