HFMA issues results of 2002 healthcare supply-chain survey - HFMA News - Brief Article

Healthcare Financial Management, June, 2002

HFMA recently published results of a survey identifying barriers, trends, and best practices related to supply-chain management. The survey found that physician preference is the most significant barrier faced by healthcare executives and supply-chain leaders, and that involvement of clinicians in identifying standard supplies represents the greatest opportunity for improving the supply chain in the future. Other opportunities identified by supply-chain leaders responding to the survey include improving decision-making through information systems, improving demand forecasting, and reducing labor costs through automation.

Survey results were based on responses from 321 executives and 279 supply-chain leaders in purchasing, materials management, and other related supply-chain management functions. Research was conducted by HFMA through a partnership with San Francisco-based McKesson Corporation as part of HFMA's resource management update project.

The study report is available on-line at www.hfma.org/resou rce/ focus_areas/scsurvey.pdf.