Amerinet participates in DoD pilot program to improve data synchronization

Healthcare Purchasing News, Sept, 2007

Amerinet Inc., a national healthcare purchasing organization, announced that it is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in a pilot program to test product data synchronization through a potential "product data utility" (PDU) to reduce supply chain costs and increase efficiencies in healthcare.

"By strategically partnering with healthcare leaders, such as Amerinet, we can accelerate efforts to make synchronized data via a single source a reality in the supply chain," said Kathleen Garvin, program manager, for DoD/VA Data Synchronization. "An industry PDU has the potential to bring the same type of efficiencies to the healthcare supply chain that many other multi-billion dollar industries have achieved, including the grocery and retail industries. Data synchronization through a PDU provides consistent product data throughout the supply chain, ensuring all trading partners are sharing the same common and consistent language, which will reduce costs and increase patient safety."

Amerinet is joining an ongoing DoD pilot testing a potential PDU through the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN), as part of its medical/surgical data synchronization program. The GDSN is a non-profit global platform for the secure exchange of product information. DoD began its data synchronization initiative by piloting a "build your own" PDU. Currently, the DoD is advancing the effort by testing the GDSN as a potential PDU for the entire healthcare industry.

Amerinet will contribute to the project by recruiting member participants to take part in the pilot and analyze member data flow, as well as facilitate training. In addition, Amerinet will outline potential data flows and business practices with before and after cost projections and provide improvement process metrics for future collaboration.