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47 13th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine – Call (800) 417-2035 Jack Egnatinsky, MD, Medical Director, AAAHC If the patient was your child, your spouse, you'd want the facility to be AAAHC accredited. Why more Health Care Professionals turn to AAAHC With Standards that are nationally recognized and annually reviewed, AAAHC accredits over 6,000 health care facilities. Our surveys are conducted by experienced health care professionals, so they're collaborative in nature and not just a check list. " Improving Health Care Quality through Accreditation For more information, Contact us: 847-853-6060 By email: info@aaahc.org Log on: www.aaahc.org/basc " By Anuja Vaidya H ere are five tips to fix common ambu- latory surgery center supply chain fail- ures. 1. Partner with a GPO. Use all the tools avail- able in the industry, including group purchasing organizations, says Lori Pilla, vice president of the clinical advantage program and supply chain optimization at Amerinet. These organizations can help ASCs get lower pricing and standardize supplies. They can also provide delivery schedules that suit the ASC's functions. 2. Hire a management company or out- side consultant. According to Jean Skora, materials manager at The Surgery Center of Pinehurst (N.C.), management companies can offer training and guidelines that help turn around a failing supply chain strategy. If it's not possible for an ASC to hire a management company, an outside consultant can evaluate your strategy. "They can provide your supply chain staff with a new point of view. A fresh perspective can re-energize an overwhelmed staff," she says. 3. Standardization is key. "Simplicity is re- ally the foundation for the success of an ASC," says Ms. Pilla. Most stakeholders that want to be a part of an ASC come into it knowing that the way to deliver quality care at a lower cost is to be consistent. It is important to have the conversation regard- ing standardization of supplies with physicians early on. Ensure that physicians understand how standardization can help reduce costs. "Not ev- eryone will get all the products they want and certain numbers and types of supplies will be used, but it will result in huge cost savings for the facility," she says. 4. Monitor your supply spend consistent- ly. Know what your par levels are, and if you find yourself adding products last minute something is wrong. There needs to be a value analysis pro- cess for product costs when selecting supplies for your center. 5. Don't bury your head in the sand. A good ASC manager is invested in the business success and confronts problems head on. ASC administrators need to take action when a sup- ply chain strategy isn't working. "They have to be willing to change as well as be flexible in or- der to successfully move forward from a failed strategy and ensure surgery center growth," says Ms. Pilla. n 5 Tips to Fix Supply Chain Failures 13th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine June 11-13, 2015 • Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel • Chicago, IL 90+ Surgeons Speaking & 108 Sessions • Key Note Speakers: Deion Sanders, Billy Beane and Bill Walton For more information, visit www.beckersspine.com or call (800) 417-2035.