The world of healthcare logistics is moving fast, and the pressure to advance has never been greater. To prepare for the future, health system leaders must rethink, redesign and reimagine this critically important function.
During a webinar hosted by Becker's Hospital Review and sponsored by Cardinal Health™ OptiFreight® Logistics, two healthcare leaders discussed how CommonSpirit Health is transforming its approach to total logistics management:
- Emily Gallo, senior vice president and general manager, OptiFreight® Logistics
- Dr. John Waller, system director of supply chain distribution, CommonSpirit Health
Four key takeaways:
- CommonSpirit Health collaborated with OptiFreight® Logistics to standardize processes and reduce costs. CommonSpirit Health is one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the United States with 140 hospitals and over 1,000 sites of care in 21 states. OptiFreight® Logistics helps customers like CommonSpirit Health meet the critical goals of optimizing shipping costs and improving efficiencies through a team of committed experts, tailored solutions and continuous innovation and insights.
CommonSpirit Health has two logistics goals: improve process standardization and lower costs. At the same time, systemwide solutions must be tailored for individual regions.
"OptiFreight® Logistics is helping us identify the top 10 inbound suppliers and outbound shippers who rely on overnight service in each market," Dr. Waller said. "With that information, we are determining how many shipments we can convert to ground service. In addition, we're creating an action plan to move unmanaged suppliers onto the OptiFreight® Logistics program to lower shipping costs." Analysis shared by Dr. Waller shows that the system saves an average of 44.5 percent per pack when they ship through the OptiFreight® Logistics program. - Customized logistics solutions increase efficiency. Rather than using off-the-shelf software and solutions that are hard to customize, OptiFreight® Logistics creates tailored solutions for its customers. For example, OptiFreight® Logistics customized a shipping solution for CommonSpirit Health to expedite COVID-19 test shipments to a core lab. "OptiFreight® maintains close relationships with carriers and works directly with key stakeholders to help ensure on-time delivery, despite global supply chain disruptions," Dr. Waller said.
- Ongoing support from logistics experts is a game changer for health systems. OptiFreight® Logistics' experts help healthcare logistics teams work at their highest level. According to Gallo, "It takes expertise, diverse perspectives and passion to be more than simply a logistics provider. We are a logistics advocate. No technology alone can take the place of committed experts."
For CommonSpirit Health, the OptiFreight® Logistics team is engaged from individual facilities all the way up to the corporate supply chain, ensuring alignment throughout the system. "It's a culture of collaboration. No other company can provide me with a team like this," Dr. Waller said. - OptiFreight® Logistics leverages innovation and insights to move healthcare logistics forward. Technology and data analytics reveal opportunities to improve logistics efficiency and reduce costs. "It's important to understand that you don't know what you don't know," Dr. Waller observed. OptiFreight® Logistics provides comprehensive data analytics through its TotalVue™ technology solution, which empowers customers to find new savings, gain new predictive insights, track progress, benchmark performance and maximize discounts.
Looking ahead, CommonSpirit Health is optimistic about continued logistics advancements. "By making logistics costs more predictable, we can establish consistent costs per procedure across the entire health system. This will support quality patient care and the financial health of our system overall," Dr. Waller said.
Learn more about advancing your total healthcare logistics with OptiFreight® Logistics here.
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