National Hospital Week 2021: Four reasons supply professionals are crucial for your hospital or health system success

Every year in May, we celebrate National Hospital Week . This allows an opportunity to highlight our hospitals, health systems, and healthcare workers and the innovative ways they are supporting the needs of their community members, especially through this pandemic. 

As part of National Hospital Week, it is also important to recognize supply chain professionals as part of that group of dedicated healthcare workers and the role they play in successful hospital operations. In an industry that calls for reduced costs without sacrificing top-quality care, success would be nearly impossible without their tenacity and constant innovation. Though these professionals touch every department of the hospital and act as the backbone of a well-functioning health system, their efforts to revolutionize and streamline patient care are often overlooked.

With that in mind, here are four reasons that supply chain professionals play a crucial role in hospital success: 

  1. They wear more hats than their titles may suggest.
    The expression “Renaissance man” may bring Leonardo da Vinci to mind, but the men and women behind your supply chain operations must also demonstrate deep knowledge across a wide range of functions. In addition to their daily efforts to ensure that hospital staff has the products necessary for high-quality patient care, these leaders may also take on the characteristics of trailblazers, data-masters, automators, and team anchors. Whether they’re leveraging state-of-the-art analytics technology to transform data points into actionable improvements or coordinating with other leaders to generate momentum for positive change, their multi-faceted work experience allows them to see potential problems in the supply chain from a variety of viewpoints.
  2. They are the connective tissue of your entire health system.
    Supply chain leaders have the unique opportunity to support every area of your hospital and must therefore have a deep understanding of each department’s needs. Though their work spans an ever-widening continuum of care, they unite manufacturers, suppliers, and clinicians through the common goal of improved patient outcomes at the lowest possible cost. In a time when hospitals are driven to do more with less, they collaborate with a variety of stakeholders including nurses, physicians, hospital executives to bring sound reasoning and diversity of perspective into every decision they make.
  3. In a high-pressure environment, they adapt quickly and professionally.
    In the complex and ever-changing world of healthcare, supply chain leaders must navigate a high-stakes atmosphere with potentially life-altering consequences. Therefore, ensuring the best outcome for each and every patient is the guiding light that they rely on to successfully direct their teams through uncharted waters. According to a 2019 Cardinal Health survey, over 50% of respondents working in the supply chain space have been in the healthcare industry for 20 years or longer. This real-world experience provides them with the finely-honed expertise necessary to address problems as they arise with confidence and ease. 
  4. The hard work that goes into an effective supply chain often takes place behind the scenes.
    Despite the fact that supply chain leaders play an integral role in optimizing patient care, their efforts may not be immediately visible. In fact, a supply chain at peak performance should appear to function effortlessly, automatically, and seamlessly. Though shielding your hospital from negative change can be a herculean task, their efforts allow the care you provide to remain uninterrupted. Since these leaders rarely seek the spotlight for their crucial contributions, it’s up to you to demonstrate that their actions have not gone unnoticed. 

In the spirit of National Hospital week, we invite you to take a moment to celebrate your supply chain colleagues for their often-unrecognized efforts. They support patient safety and make more efficient, seamless care a reality. 

For supply chain insights, visit our supply chain center.   

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