In the complex web of healthcare delivery, the intersection of supply chains and clinical staff plays a pivotal role.

The ties between these two areas were accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to be of the utmost importance.

Integrating physicians into supply chain management can be a transformative step toward the effective functioning of healthcare systems, but it’s easier said than done.

Here’s what to know about developing a clinically integrated supply chain.

Physicians as Crucial Supply Chain Allies

In the shift towards value-based care, collaboration with clinicians on procurement and supply chain topics is integral to healthcare systems. Physicians now play a pivotal role in managing scarce supplies and effectively communicating these changes to clinical staff.

The greatest outcomes emerge when healthcare clinical staff and supply chain leaders unite to determine what best supports patient health. Access to data is the special sauce empowering physicians to enhance the quality of care delivery.

However, health systems often face challenges in engaging clinicians in these processes. These hurdles include limited access to centralized databases, issues with data sets, and a disconnect in clinically meaningful terminology in procurement and supply data. Read more >