AS I SEE IT


Manage the Supply Chain Effectively Focus on people, technology and process BY SCOTT JACKSON AND BENJAMIN HIGH


ASCs are one of the fastest growing seg- ments of the healthcare in-


dustry and visits to outpatient cen- ters continue to increase, according to a September 18, 2020, McKinsey & Company article by Pooja Kumar and Ramya Parthasarathy. To continue delivering quality patient care while maintaining operational success, con- sider an effective supply chain strategy with three key focus areas in mind: people, technology and process.


People


Whether an ASC is large or small, hav- ing the right people in the right posi- tions is vital to the success of the cen- ter. The materials staff is no exception. Large ASCs generally have a ded- icated materials manager, but not all ASCs are large enough to war- rant a full-time position. Regardless, every ASC should designate at least one team member to “own” this pro- cess. A portion of an ASC’s total bud- get is funneling through the materi- als department, so someone must be accountable for it. The most common traits the best materials staff members


often share include: ■


An eye for detail: If something is running low or the case volume is out of the ordinary, the materials team member must notice and act. Identifying a low stock item before it is completely depleted will save not only many headaches but ship- ping costs, too.


■


Organization skills: A well-orga- nized stock room is a happy stock room. Keeping stock areas clean and clutter-free and making certain


8 ASC FOCUS MARCH 2021 | ascfocus.org


everything has a dedicated place will help prevent issues that otherwise would occur.


■


An ability to prioritize tasks: Mate- rials staff get pulled in many direc- tions, including purchasing, receiving, stocking, reconciliation, inventory management and vendor relations. Many also have other responsibilities outside of materials management. To effectively juggle these compet- ing responsibilities, materials staff must be able to analyze each task and make strategic decisions about where to prioritize their efforts immediately and what to assign for later.


Technology


Healthcare supply chain technology continues to be one of the most impor- tant concepts discussed in the non-


acute market today. Countless solu- tions and systems are available to alleviate various challenges, includ- ing purchasing, receiving, inventory management, invoice reconciliation, billing, scheduling and data analytics. Certain solutions offer combinations of all the above. With so many choices, it is easy to be overwhelmed. To stay focused, identify the primary chal- lenges facing your organization’s sup- ply chain and then work backward to a solution that meets those needs. For example, if your ASC is regularly run- ning out of critical supplies, an inven- tory management system can help. Or, if your accounts payable team strug- gles to pay invoices on time, a central- ized purchasing solution that integrates with your accounting software may be what you need. There are supply chain


The advice and opinions expressed in this column are those of the authors and do not represent official Ambulatory Surgery Center Association policy or opinion.


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