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Automating the Supply Chain in the OR
Author(s) -
Graham Jim,
Brewer Martha S.,
Theresa Byrd Valencia
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
aorn journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1878-0369
pISSN - 0001-2092
DOI - 10.1016/s0001-2092(06)62240-0
Subject(s) - supply chain , operations management , business , service (business) , materials management , product (mathematics) , supply chain management , facility management , perioperative , perioperative nursing , process management , medical emergency , engineering management , medicine , marketing , engineering , surgery , geometry , mathematics
At the University of Louisville (Ky) Hospital, staff members from the materials management and surgery departments have worked together to automate the supply chain. The goals were to remove supply activities from clinical staff members whenever possible, obtain and apply information for better product ordering and use, reduce personnel in the materials management department, and improve perioperative nurses' ability to obtain supplies—all at a decreased cost to the facility. This article describes how, after implementing point‐of‐service technology for all surgical supplies, the facility realized a cost‐per‐procedure savings of 16% and increased satisfaction among staff members in both departments. AORN J 70 (Aug 1999) 268–276.