As the healthcare supply chain industry grapples with preparing for a few looming deadlines during the next few years involving data standards adoption, clinicians face some deadlines of their own about electronic health/medical records that are a little farther out. Questions remain about how the two might be connected for optimal efficiency and patient care.

Ask a supply chain manager to reveal the top 5 battles he or she must fight on a daily basis and you’ll likely hear tall tales about demanding surgeons, impatient nurses and arrogant supplier reps. But friction with finance people simmer just outside the obvious three, particularly with accounts payable and the revenue cycle managers.