Setting the standard: west coast healthcare network mandates ERP system to ensure business standardization in four states - Enterprise Resource Planning: case history

Health Management Technology, Sept, 2003 by Laureen O'Brien

Our new financial software allows us to collect data, analyze it, integrate our systems and share information quickly. With one common chart of accounts, our financial data is comparable and applicable to specific audiences, whether it is a report for a single entity or our system board.

The creation of common item and vendor files will deliver significant annual savings in our supply chain across regions. The e-procurement software seamlessly integrates our supply chain applications with those of preferred trading partners, so requisitioning, purchasing, billing and payment is automated. Also, reducing paper-based procurement processes enables our staff to focus more time on patient care.

The Lawson implementation became a catalyst, accelerating the transition to a single-system approach to achieve our business goals. As our organization began to realize the many benefits of system consolidation as well as data and process standardization, we escalated our plans to convert the Washington and Southern California regions to the new system. We plan to be live across our entire organization--all four regions--with all Lawson modules by 2005.

Table 1

System        Launch Date     Region

Finance       December 2001   Alaska
                              System Office
              January 2002    Oregon

HR/Payroll    January 2002    System Office
              February 2002   Alaska
              June 2002       Oregon

Procurement   May 2003        Oregon
              June 2003       Alaska
                              System Office

For more information about ERP solutions from Lawson, www.rsleads.com/309ht-200

Laureen O'Brien is the regional director of information services for Providence Health System-Oregon in Portland, Ore.