Cardinal Health has launched a supply chain automation solution that is designed to address the challenges in the operating room.
The single health system-wide platform allows hospitals to streamline OR processes, reduce costs and improve efficiency with real-time inventory visibility and prescriptive analytics. The system also offers real-time insights and wrap-around logistics.
“We recognized that the OR supply chain is not only one of the most expensive areas in a hospital, it’s also one of the most challenging. By ensuring that resources are in the right place and available when needed, we help our customers maintain their focus on improving patient care,” John Roy, VP and general manager of WaveMark at Cardinal Health, said in a press release. “The sheer scale, complexity and unique requirements of the OR call for a supply chain solutions developed specifically for the OR, which considers aspects of people, process and technology.”
Cardinal Health reports that 40-60% of total hospital supply costs are OR expenses and the inventory for the average 15-room OR includes 3,000 to 4,000 products in a number of locations. The supplies are moved through different processes and have different requirements for tracking, documentation and compliance.
Cardinal Health’s solution helps bring diverse data and workflows together, saving time, cutting costs and giving clinical staff and supply chain administrators more peace of mind and improved workflows.
The solution features a simple dashboard that gives alerts for things that need immediate attention like slow moving, recalled or missing item. The analytics suite can pull together multiple streams of supply data and case cost information for complete visibility from receipt, usage and order. The solution also offers prescriptive analytics that can predict future needs and provide a course of action to manage supply-related challenges. The system’s interoperability means that the system can be incorporated into existing hospital systems, including materials management systems, electronic medical records and clinical information systems.
The new Cardinal Health system also offers improved visibility, flexible reporting, scalability and change management, allowing hospitals to create a comprehensive and integrated approach that is in light with operational and financial planning.
“We’ve seen firsthand the extraordinary challenges facing OR staff,” said Roy. “And we’ve seen the limitations and significant costs of relying on a patchwork of separate systems. Building on everything we’ve learned over years working with OR leaders, we’ve built a solution that gives clinical staff and OR supply chain administrators the critical tools they need to cut costs, save time, support patient care, and make informed decisions.”
