INSIDE THE CURRENT ISSUE

November 2008

News
Doing more with less - redefining inventory organization

Organizing supplies and equipment within a facility’s confines remains a hallmark of effective supply chain management. But limited space, coupled with supply and equipment hoarding, present a recipe for cluttered minefields of products, absent a burst of organizational creativity.

Up Close
with Karen McGraner, director of Baptist Centers for Cancer Care’s
Radiation Oncology Center

From the 2009 Industry Guide

How costly is the consignment convenience?
by Fred W. Crans

Efficiency dieting in supply chain operations
It’s not just a numbers game
by Rick Dana Barlow

Agencies & Associations

Inflationary Indices
Operating Room
Suite rewards for selected OR personnel

Operating room management professionals should be heartened by much of the data from Healthcare Purchasing News’ 2008 salary survey because for the most part salaries for OR professionals are higher – to an average of $70,000 across all titles. But three distinct titles are posting even more impressive increases.

Infection Connection
Hand hygiene formula: 2 clean hands 4 good health

Hand hygiene may show up as a command in the first chapter and first verse of the healthcare worker’s bible but compliance remains an issue – an overall average of 40 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infection Protection

CS Solutions

Self-Study Series
What, how and why:
Enzymatic instrument cleaning products in healthcare environments
Central Services
Endoscope Care Guide 2008: Taking care of surgical business

Because the majority of surgeries performed in hospital and outpatient center surgical suites today involve minimally invasive procedures and techniques, it’s not only prudent but also paramount for facilities to take special care of their valuable endoscopic tools.

Introduction and Vendor Chart

Optimal Care & Handling of Scopes

Six Steps to Long Scope Life

Anatomy of an Endoscope

10 Best Practices for Cleaning and Caring for Endoscopes

Choosing a Repair Vendor

Organizing a GI Lab

Inspecting Repaired Endoscopes

6 tips for proper, patient-safe scope repair inspections

Products and Services
Proactively managing freight can slow shipping cost spikes

Today’s budget-conscious healthcare organizations are digging deeper to drive bigger savings, and one often overlooked savings opportunity is freight management. Little-to-no attention has been paid to the costs associated with shipping inbound and outbound goods, and as a result, many facilities likely have been paying more than necessary for the service.

What Works
Automated supply management improves OR efficiency, charge capture

New Products

People & Opinions
Fast Foreward

People & Opinions
The impact of consumables and implant costs on your bottom line

Having My Say
Stonehill College healthcare supply chain program

Clinical Business Strategies
Are inventory benchmarks really useful?

Back Talk
Team negotiations can lead to better purchasing decisions

CLICK HERE to Read Articles from previous issues of Healthcare Purchasing News