Value of Central Purchasing

1
Value of Central Purchasing

• Ed Schryer, CPhT
• Pharmacy Buyer
• Intermountain Healthcare

2
Background
The Supply Chain Organizationensures quality
products and services are sourced, purchased, and
delivered to Intermountain Healthcares
hospitals, clinics and divisions, using
principles of supply chain management.  The
Supply Chain Organization helps Intermountain get
the best value for the dollars it spends and
allows the company to devote more resources to
patient care.  The Supply Chain Organization
assists in improving operational effectiveness
and helping Intermountain as it aspires to
provide extraordinary care in all its
dimensions. - Intermountain Healthcare
3
Change of SystemPharmacy Purchasing
4
Value of Central PurchasingPharmacy Purchasing
5
Hospital Comments

• The pharmacy buyer team at Intermountain
  Healthcare have provided a tremendous service to
  our 22 hospitals as well as our physician group. 
  Their research and support of the local inventory
  specialist are invaluable in helping the
  organization obtain the medications that are
  necessary for our patients.  They have an active
  role in our P and T process as well as helping us
  with adherence to contract purchasing and finding
  hard to purchase products.  We are fortunate to
  have individuals that are very serious about
  their responsibilities and are a great asset to
  the company.

• I never have any problems at all.  You always
  let me know if there is a shortage, or if our
  distributor has received short-supply items in
  their warehouse.
• I think you are awesome!

• I think you folks are fantastic.  We make 1 easy
  call or 1 simple email and you guys seem to have
  the world at your fingertips because you take
  care of the order and we get the stuff we need. 
  Thanks a bunch!!

6
Hospital Comments

• The advent of the corporate buyer has been a
  very positive experience for us at our hospital.
• Being able to contact one individual to find all
  pharmaceuticals not available from our wholesaler
  has streamlined our process and help us reduce
  costs. Also, the information the corporate buyer
  conveys to us about shortages is very useful and
  helps us inform the staff and physicians about
  shortages before they become critical.
• The corporate buyer is now an indispensible part
  in our buying strategy.

• I would have to say I really like having a
  central buyer team. I like the fact that they
  interact directly with the manufacturers and can
  devote time to issues like the shortages and
  backorders. Purchasing can be so difficult that
  if I had to do all that they do on top of what I
  do at the facility level I would not be able to
  keep up with my daily responsibilities.
• The central buyer team also has a chance to work
  closely with each other and can help each others
  facilities with the purchasing challenges that we
  all face. The inventory specialists at each
  facility do not always have the time or
  opportunity to talk to each other so it is harder
  to help each other or know of each others needs.
  I think having a central team saves the
  corporation time and money for each facility.