Ensuring Supply Chain Quality to Keep Patients Safe

Challenge

Ken Burkholder, Clinical Engineering Director at OhioHealth, wanted more insight into how much “and with whom “they spend; a hindrance driven by manual processes that created unnecessary burdens to identify and source parts, track shipments and receive invoices, to help his staff make better buying decisions.

Solution

Burkholder was in need of a solution that would optimize his procurement processes, to help identify bottlenecks and data gaps, allowing his department to make meaningful changes to address shortcomings and improve outcomes.

“With PartsSource, OhioHealth’s 12 hospitals now share one standard, efficient and cost-effective procurement platform, and have improved asset uptime, patient throughput and healthcare margins.”

Ken Burkholder Clinical Engineering Manager
OhioHealth

Burkholder was in need of a solution that would optimize his procurement processes, to help identify bottlenecks and data gaps, allowing his department to make meaningful changes to address shortcomings and improve outcomes.

After his evaluation, Burkholder concluded he needed to establish a unified workflow to optimize the procurement process. His ideal solution included the ability to identify and source a part using automation tools, electronically submit an order for approval, place an order within a fully integrated system, track all shipments and receive an electronic invoice. He also wanted to include robust internal controls, enforce contract compliance and policies, and reduce maverick spending across multiple locations.

To solve this challenge, he began by implementing a predetermined set of criteria to evaluate the efficiency of his department+’s practices and processes, and clearly define what was to be judged. Once he understood the problems he was trying to solve, he set the appropriate benchmarks.

Optimization minimizes procurement costs by keeping processes for obtaining parts and services as efficient and consistent as possible, while effectively managing quality.

With these added efficiencies, OhioHealth now has the time and resources to focus on more important business goals and objectives.

In eliminating some of its manual processes, OhioHealth has ensured their supply chain is of the best quality possible to help keep patients safe.

“We are very happy now, said Burkholder. “It’s just so easy to pack up and send the device, and we don’t get any repeat repairs. If there is ever an issue with suppliers or service, we feel confident PartsSource will address problems with vendors on our behalf.”

“We know we are helping keep patients safe.”

Ken Burkholder

“Streamlining our procurement processes for our hospital and our affiliates has allowed us to consolidate order entry, management and reconciliation into one consistent and simple to use process for on-demand goods and services”, said Burkholder. “My staff enjoys the efficiency in their day-to-day workflow, and we know we are helping keep patients safe.”