6 Benefits of Supply Chain Software
Let’s face it - patients, physicians and insurance companies love ASCs. Patients have lower out-of-pocket costs for minimally invasive surgeries and be home by evening to recuperate, insurance companies love the lower healthcare costs, and physicians can help more people and have more control over their work environment. But where can ASCs find more cost savings without affecting patient care?
The easiest way for ASCs to trim costs is through their supply chain. Automating supply chain processes leads to efficiencies that can both affect the bottom line and patient care in very positive ways.
Automate Processes
The best supply chain software will aggregate vendors, products, pricing, and availability all onto one platform - no more faxing, phoning or emailing orders to each individual vendor. One click of the “submit” buttons sends product orders to each vendor separately followed by confirmations and shipping details for easy tracking. The software should have automatic updating of contracted pricing and compliance to the formulary or item master list when ordering. Users should have the ability to comparison-shop with a preferred vendor or even another vendor within the purchasing platform versus researching prices at each individual vendor’s site. This will not only save money, but enormous amounts of time that could be better spent on revenue-generating activities like patient care.
Buy It With A Barcode
How much time is spent manually counting stock, writing down sku/part numbers on a sheet of paper, and transferring the information to an order form for each vendor? Barcode technology allows staff to scan product codes on the go, guaranteeing that the correct items at the correct price are ordered while keeping an accurate inventory count.
Just-In-Time Inventory
It is no secret that for most ASCs, storage space is limited. A supply chain software that tracks inventory in real time means no more under- or over-ordering, or even hoarding of supplies “just in case.” Instead of large orders that require a lot of storage space when received, orders can be placed as needed to ensure supplies are available for upcoming surgeries. Being able to confirm and track shipments in the purchasing software application can alleviate concerns about stock levels, and we only need to look at 2020 and PPE ordering to know how critical certain supplies can be. Using just-in-time also lets ASCs perpetually manage inventory instead of having to complete time-consuming manual inventories that often lead to errors.
Ease of Use for the Entire Organization
It isn’t just the materials managers a supply chain software can affect - administrators, management, physicians and accounting teams can all reap the benefits. Supply chain software should also integrate with clinical applications for case costing without the duplicate work of maintaining your item master in your clinical applications. Integrating the software with AP applications automatically identifies discrepancies and ensures accuracy by removing the double- and triple-keying of information and manual errors. Additionally, many vendors offer discounts for organizations who pay quickly, so processing invoices faster can save ASCs money.
Reporting Key Data
Financial issues can be addressed quickly with software that offers reporting that supplies users with actionable insights. ASC management teams do not want to spend time combing through cumbersome spreadsheets looking for crucial data. Dashboards with access to important metrics like real-time inventory and detailed spend analysis give ASCs the ability to better optimize their business and reduce costs.
Supply Chain That Grows With The Organization
For ASCs that are expanding or want to include their clinics, it is important that the supply chain software can grow with the business. Every facility can easily be set up the same way - formularies and templates for ordering, consolidated item masters to take advantage of vendor discounts, and tracking implants and consignment products. Anyone ordering from any location can order supplies from one central platform with one centralized approval process.
ASCs walk a fine line between providing the best care and being cost-effective for patients. Implementing supply chain software takes the guesswork out of purchasing and ensures your organization is prepared for every procedure while controlling supply costs. It puts your team’s focus back on where it needs to be: The patient.