Purchase services are receiving a lot of buzz lately (articles, conferences, blogs, etc.) in healthcare supply chain circles, but this doesn’t mean that everybody is involved with their healthcare organization’s purchase services. However, progressive supply chain managers that do get involved cite these three reasons for doing so:
- DEFENSIVE MOVE to keep contingency consultants from roaming on their turf. More and more hospitals are hiring contingency consultants to rein in their purchase service costs. Therefore, progressive supply chain managers are cutting these consultants off at the pass by managing and controlling their own hospital’s purchase service costs.
- STRATEGIC MOVE to expand their influence in their healthcare organization. What better way to show that you are a team player in these turbulent times than supply chain management expanding their sphere of influence to include purchase services where big savings reside.
- PROTECTIVE MOVE to insure that they remain the leader in their domain. The last thing that a supply chain manager wants to do is to see that an area of their responsibility is delegated to someone else (e.g., consultants, interns, GPOs, etc.). This can and will weaken your position.
If you, too, are a progressive supply chain manager you realize that taking over your healthcare organization’s purchase services is more than just saving money. It’s about defending your turf, expanding your influence, and protecting your domain from incursions from outsiders.
Don’t get hung up on the excuse that you “don’t have enough resources to do so,” since you can partner with a third-party that can provide you with all of the resources you need to be successful in purchase services management.