AHRMM Blog

2011-11-10T10:39:00.003-06:00

WOW! It's hard to believe that two weeks from today is Thanksgiving Day and then "Black Friday" - aka - the start of Christmas shopping season! Where has the year gone?

Less than two weeks ago, we had our big Halloween Costume Party and Contest here at Children's of Alabama - for employees and patients - it is always a big highlight of the year.

This year was a bit challenging as our space was constricted due to the ongoing construction for our expansion facility. However, a great time was had by all - children and adults.

So much is going on here in my little world - StockStation will go online in December, physical inventory on November 30, and ongoing meetings about the supply needs for the expansion facility.

We are meeting with Blue Cottage, a consulting group, who is working with the hospital toward facilitating a proactive move team approach. It makes for a busy time here at our hospital - so much to do, but so little time it seems.

The Fall season is really showing itself in beautiful displays of autumn foilage. The colors are simply gorgeous and really show why the state of Alabama is known as "Alabama the Beautiful."

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and don't spend too much money on Black Friday shopping deals!

Nancy J. Webber, MPH, CMRP

BUSY time!

2011-10-26T10:54:00.000-05:00

Wow! We are busy bees here at Childrens of Alabama! It seems like so much is happening so fast. First, construction of our Expansion Facility continues well, thanks to some good Alabama weather. Our expected opening date is August 2012. In our Central Distribution Department, we are finishing the setup of our Pyxis Stockstations in the storeroom. We are looking forward to finally having our storeroom on a perpetual system that will streamline ordering and help increase the efficiency of our storeroom. We began the next phase of the Par Optimization of our Pyxis supply stations - a project which lasts through the remainder of 2011.

It is hard to believe that Halloween is in just six days! Halloween is a fun time for staff, visitors, and patients here at Childrens of Alabama. Our annual Costume contest is always something we look forward to - department skits in past years have included such classics as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "The Monster Mash." This year should prove to be just as much fun. Check out our website at http://www.childrensal.org/ to follow our construction progress and to see photos from our pediatric world - as we know it! Everyone have a fun and safe Halloween!

Nancy J Webber, MPH, CMRP

Goodbye Summertime! Hello Fall!

2011-09-29T16:14:00.000-05:00

The summertime officially ended its season early Friday morning, September 23rd, so we are throughly entrenched in the Autumn splendor of this fun season. Where I live, our weather is still warm but in other parts of the country, trees will begin turning the gorgeous colors of the season. Soon pumpkins will be purchased, carved, and set out on many front porches, to greet the trick-or-treaters of Halloween next month.

Here at Childrens of Alabama, our department is readying for the implementation of Stockstations to finally computerize our storeroom. With over 1,300 line items, we knew that a manual inventory system would not work, especially with the opening of the expansion facility next year. If that wasn't enough, we are also proceeding with a par optimization of our already installed Pyxis SupplyStations. Par Optimization is an inventory management service that analyzes your supply usage and current stock inventory. We found this to be very beneficial to us with one nursing area done in the Spring and plan to implement house-wide.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and is enjoying some of this beautiful weather where you live.

Nancy J.Webber, MPH, CMRP

It Has Been a Busy Couple of Weeks...

2011-09-19T11:05:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a nice Labor Day holiday and is enjoying the beginning of fall in your part of the country.

Labor Day weekend brought the rain and wins of Tropical Storm Lee through the Southeast - knocking down trees and power lines - in my state, over 200,000 people were without power after Lee came through, and by Friday, 98% of those had power restored.

After a nice cool snap, temperatures in the 90s are returning to my area this week but the promise of cooler temperatures is in the forecast.

Here at my employer, Childrens of Alabama, plans are being readied for the big move next August. I am very excited as this Thursday, I will be be touring the new facility - complete with hard hats and yellow construction vests.

I have been busy finishing up the keying of my inventory into our Pyxis Stockstations, which we hope to implement very soon. The canning of supplies in and out of the storeroom will be a big adjustment for staff members but the help that this perpetual inventory will provide will be worth it all.

Have a great week!

Nancy J Webber, MPH, CMRP

Back to the day to day....

2011-08-31T11:40:00.000-05:00

As I write this, our East Coast friends are still feeling the effects of this past weekend Hurricane Irene. Living near the Gulf of Mexico, we have become accustomed to following the Weather Channel during each hurricane season - it never gets easier watching the devastation from these weather events. We can only lift those up in our thoughts and prayers.

Here, in my little corner of the world - aka Alabama - everyone is counting the days until college football kicks off this Saturday. Alabama is unique in that we don't have professional sports teams like most of the country - College football is akin to a way of life here - we live and breathe it 24/7.

We are a year away from the big move into our expansion facility here at my job at Childrens of Alabama. Planning meetings, move meetings and organization wide projects fill our days. In addition, I am in the midst of putting our storeroom on an automated inventory - reordering generated from bar coded supplies added and subtracted by department staff. It's a big undertaking but an exciting time for us all.

We may be on another Hurricane watch again soon - there is something brewing in the Atlantic again - sigh! Everyone have a great week and keep safe.

Nancy J Webber, MPH, CMRP

Goodbye AHRMM11 and Boston

2011-08-23T11:33:00.001-05:00

It has been a week since my return to work after AHRMM 11 in Boston. Was I only off 5 days? Wow - >200 emails, full voice mail box and a desk full of work awaited me upon my return to my office. Was it worth it? Oh yes, definitely.

I think each year that AHRMM cannot top their conference but I am proven wrong each year. The 49th AHRMM Conference in Boston - this year featured an even broader schedule of Learning Labs and outstanding General Session speakers. I purchased the books from the AHRMM bookstore written by two of our speakers this year-both look to be fantastics reads.

Tomorrow awaits another busy day at Children's of Alabama. Have a great week everyone.

Nancy J Webber, MPH, CMRP

2011-08-11T11:09:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all the attendees and vendors for making AHRMM11 so successful. I heard compliments from the vendors on the class act of a vendor fair, glowing comments on the scheduling of the sessions, conversations regarding the socials - especially the food and finally really favorable reactions to the speakers, especially Joe Tye and Jamie Orlikoff. I look forward to seeing you next year; please don't hesitate to contact AHRMM and let them know what you thought - perhaps some great ideas for next year. Oh yes, and please fill out the conference session evaluations.

Kathi J Pressley

Final Blog Entry for AHRMM11

2011-08-11T11:06:00.000-05:00

My last Learning Lab before heading to the airport for my trip back to the sunny South was very good.

"How Irrational?!The Illogical Reasons Behind the Choices we Make" with speaker Timothy Glennon.

Humans are all bundles of habits. Most thoughts are negative - replacing a negative with a positive thought can wipe away all traces in your memory within 48-72 hours. We do what we think about. To change the nature of thought change first what YOU do.

Timothy explained we have two parts of our brain - rational and emotional. We don't look at things separately but as a whole. The notion of "decoy" is important for making decisions. When we are infants we learn that warmth means safety and comfort - this feeling remains even to adulthood. Our first choices can impact our future choices.

We don't like to delay gratification - we are wired for immediate gratification. We compare what we have to others; once we own something, we think it is worth more money than it really is. This is called the Endowment Effect. The speaker ended this learning lab by reminding attendees that your emotional brain has a lot to do with decisions you make each day of your life.

Thanks to AHRMM for allowing me to Blog during this conference. I have enjoyed it a lot and look forward to next year in San Antonio!!!!

Nancy J Webber, MPH, CMRP

Travel Day

2011-08-11T10:58:00.002-05:00

As I type this I am waiting out a long layover for a connecting flight. I doubt that I am the only AHRMM member presently doing so, with the conference ending, I am sure that many of us are hurrying back home to catch up on the work that most certainly did not stop piling up while we were out of the office this week. I want to thank all of the AHRMM volunteers, staff, and presenters. It is obvious that there is a great amount of work that you all do to make this happen, and I am very appreciative of those efforts.

I met a lot of great people in Boston this year, and am looking forward to meeting more next year in San Antonio. I hope to see you there.

Jon Reiners, CMRP

AHRMM11 - August 9

2011-08-11T10:54:00.000-05:00

After a great day on Monday, the expectations for Tuesday were high. It did not disappoint.

Learning Lab 4.6

Healthcare Reform - What It Will Mean and Why It Will Be the Supply Chain Opportunity of a Lifetime. This was a panel discussion, which included the following: Michael Bohon, Scott Hawig, Randy Hayas, Michael L. Rudomin, and Eugene Schneller. This was an open panel discussion among the above discussing the implications of Healthcare Reform and how should the Supply Chain capitalize on it. All panelists agreed that physician involvement is a key for any changes that may be made due to new reform legislations. In Massachusetts, the state enacted a law requiring all state residents to have health insurance. This was an initial big tax impact on those without proven insurance. Several million new people were added to the system in Massachusetts which had made the issue of access to care so critical.

Based on a recent survey, 36% of all hospitals are not going to do any sort of ACOs, which are envisioned as a government prosperity situation that some hospitals don't like.

All Supply Chain managers need to make their records and all information available to your customers. This prospers good customer relations and is a win-win in the long haul.

General Session
Health Reform: Drivers and Implications
Speaker: Jamie Orlikoff
Beverly Slate, AHRMM President-Elect, introduced our speaker for the General Session.

There are two swords of Damocles hanging over hospitals - (1) Health Reform and (2) Federal Debt. Health Reform passed this time because it had to. The rate of healthcare costs is going up faster than inflation. Today 4.9% of the national economy is spent on our military. We spend three times more dollars to cover healthcare costs. Healthcare spending doesn't add value to the costs of our goods and services. Healthcare is the largest component of GDP and growing at a high rate. Cost reduction is the key! A reduction in costs creates the dollars to provide gain sharing. Value-efficiency-safety must center on patient care. Value not volume.

Learning Lab 5
Secrets of the Supply Chain (That Every Administrator Should Know).

Speakers, Michael Bohon and Michael Rudomin discussed the problem of frequent miscommunication between hospital departments and the importance of uncovering and properly addressing these strategic Supply Chain “secrets.” We need to discover new and minimally disruptive approaches to supply chain improvements that can produce positive results. Building trust takes time - it is built through actions and often starts with small projects. Deal with hard facts - if you blow it you might as well give up. Vendor consolidation saves the most money. GPO assessments are very expensive and 70% of the hospitals end up staying with same vendor.

Tuesday was a great day and the vendor exhibits were some of the best I have seen in recent years. AHRMM11 has been a wonderful learning experience for all.

Just one more day then I jet back to the sunny South - blog for final day to come later.

Nancy J Webber, MPH, CMRP

2011-08-09T17:58:00.000-05:00

This morning proved to be another great experience in Boston. My first session was enlightening, learning about those aspects that make the healthcare supply chain unique, as well as similarities from other industries. Following this learning experience, I was able to reconnect with several colleagues at the vendor fair and made new acquaintances as well, which should prove even more valuable than the iPad that I didn’t win.

After lunch, I readied myself for an informative but dry general session; after all, how could a session entitled Health Reform: Drivers and Implications be interesting? The answer to this question is Jamie Orlikoff. He is not only a talented presenter with a mastery of his subject matter, but he was also entertaining and quite funny, even though his message may be construed as “bad news” (As I type, I am putting a quarter in the pickle jar.)

The healthcare supply chain is about to undergo trial by fire. Those supply chain executives who are ready for the challenge will have both the attention and support of the C-Suite at an unprecedented level as the industry is forced to evaluate costs and utilization. I am reminded of an old saying: “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.” Supply chain has been asking for more administrative attention. Now that we have it, the question becomes, what we are going to do with it? Here’s hoping that we all rise to the challenge.

Jon Reiners, CMRP

AHRMM11 - Day 3

2011-08-09T07:25:00.000-05:00

Wow, already Day 3 of my last AHRMM meeting as a Board member. It has been so wonderful to meet the many faces behind the voices of committee members; by the way, it has been my pleasure working with you all, and I hope you have benefited from the experience as much as I. Thank you for you time and commitment.

Joe Tye was the perfect speaker to begin AHRMM after Bill Stitt's welcome. Joe's presentation complemented Bill's comments regarding what roles we play by reminding us of our history and the value each one of us can bring to each social, educational, and professional forum.

The sessions I have attended have been well presented and representative of the calibre of professionals amongst. Remember, you too, have a story and we would love to see a submission for next year.

Off to my first session this am; will try to check in shortly.

Kathi J Pressley

Having a Great Time in Boston

2011-08-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

With the first day of AHRMM completed, I have to say that Boston is a great town for this conference. The eclectic mix of people, sights, and architecture permeate this city in a way that, strangely, seems to reflect the varied backgrounds, occupations, and home bases of the attendees.

My personal highlight of the day yesterday was hearing Joe Tye talk about designing a cultural blueprint for your department. He is a truly gifted speaker, with a topic that is both salient and timely, and after hearing him speak, I have set a personal goal to spend at least one hour every week planning the invisible architecture of my department, and I would like to challenge all of my AHRMM colleagues to do the same.

That’s all for now; I am looking forward to day two.

Jon Reiners, CMRP

AHRMM11 - August 8 - Monday

2011-08-09T05:59:00.000-05:00

"It's truly a supply chain revolution. Let's lead the charge" - William Stitt

Our 49th Annual Conference had the Opening Session and Keynote Address in the Ballroom East of the Boston Convention Center. William Stitt, AHRMM President addressed the members with welcoming remarks and information. Kimberly-Clark presented the prestigious George R. Gossett Leadership Award to Jamie Kowalski - a very deserved honor.

Keynote speaker was Joe Tye, CEO and Head Coach, America's Values Coach. In today's healthcare reform climate, healthcare facilities should ensure that everyone does their part. Instead of whining and crying look at things as opportunity for change for the better. Florence Nightengale was the first hospital administrator during her 22 months at the battlefront during the Crimean War. Her book "Notes on Nursing" is still widely respected. The first hospital was in fact designed by Florence Nightengale - the Sidney Herbert Hospital in 1866. Before this time hospitals were in converted warehouses and other buildings. Healthcare is not a job - it is a mission. Disengagement is one of the chief causes of underachievement and depression on the job. The invisible architecture is the blueprint behind the brick and mortar of your organization - it is the soul of an organization.

Mr.Tye signed copies of his book during the attendee luncheon - which is available for sale in the AHRM Bookstore.

Learning Lab 1

Preventing Fraud and Theft in the O.R. 1.6 Speaker for this session, Thomas Beall, spoke of his own experience at his facility when a whistleblower reported that their vendor was charging full price for new reamers used in hip repair but the sales person for the hospital was actually substituting used instruments. He went through the investigation, how data was gathered and the spikes in purchases over a 2-year period - a red flag - a demonstration was shown to attendees of the drilling of the hip bone for placement of the pins. The initial justification in very fine print, where cleaning of this product was given, said the hospital may opt for new drill each procedure. Final outcome - company response - after investigation of its sales force, the sales person for the hospital got greedy.

Learning Lab 2

Results of 2011 Executive Survey on Supply Chain Management: Messages and Strategies. The speaker, Jamie Kowalski, gave the results for this survey, which is done in collaboration with AHRMM, Marquette University's Center for Supply Chain Management, and Jamie Kowalski Consulting LLC. Supply Chain can improve hospital performance, hospital productivity, and hospital effectiveness. Supply Chain can also improve clinical success, patient care, and patient safety. Support for the Supply Chain at the C-level is dropping and the survey results are significantly lower. A main area of concern is the fact that Supply Chain Leaders (moderately) are 3.3/5.0 satisfied with their performance. Improvement and process is being seen but the interest level is lower. The main focus of the C-suite is revenue and reimbursement - most do not believe that Supply Chain is strategic. Conclusions include that there is too much disconnect between C-suite and Supply Chain. There is too much not under control. The C-suite executives need convincing that Supply Chain is strategic and Supply Chain needs leadership training.

Learning Lab 3

Journey from the Basement to the Boardroom 3.6 Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta has seen it's payor mix change to 53% Medicaid and 43% private pay. There has been a paradigm shift going from Materials Management to Supply Chain - people dependent to process dependent - technology deficient to technology enabled. Speaker John McMillian explained this was not an overnight fix. The steps include optimization, integration, collaboration, synchronization, and supply chain maturity. The Childrens Supply Chain Journey:

2005- crawl
2006- walk
2007-jog
2008-run
2009/10-sprint
2011 - run for endurance - equip for success 2012 - marathon strength strategy
2013 - team relay - collaborate/expand resources. Components of their success are to think differently, people capability, process discipline, and technology capability.

It was a long, full day - highlighted by the Vendor Exhibits from 1:15 - 4:15 pm.

Looking forward to Tuesday!
Nancy J Webber, MPH, CMRP

On the Road - Skies, I Should Say - to AHRMM 11

2011-08-07T10:44:00.000-05:00

Saturday August 6 - 8:45 am - loaded on Delta airplane for the quick flight to Atlanta from my home in Birmingham. No delays so far - so good. Weather is clear and sunny so hoping weather cooperates all the way to Boston.

12:30 pm - had a safe take-off and will be in Boston in about 2 hours 10 minutes according the overhead announcement. We are currently cruising along at 35,000 feet.

2:14 pm - safe trip and not too bumpy a landing at Boston - I am so happy to report both of my suitcases made safe journeys to the Northeast via Delta airlines.

9:15 p.m. - Westin Hotel Waterfront is simply a gorgeous place - had dinner in hotel at cute Irish pub called MJ O'Connor's - AHRMM attendees I can highly recommend! Tomorrow is early registration for conference - the 15th Annual Golf Tournament is also tomorrow. Everyone have a great day and let's get ready for AHRMM11!

Nancy J Webber, MPH, CMRP

Pickles Anyone?

2011-08-07T10:15:00.000-05:00

Who else out there has had a week filled with chaos? I won’t bore you with the details, let’s just say that I feel somewhat overwhelmed at this point, trying to check off all of the tasks in my Outlook mailbox and getting ready to travel to AHRMM. In fact, I could easily become bitter and negative, if I hadn’t recently pledged not to be a “pickle sucker.”

I learned about pickle suckers from Joe Tye, who coincidentally is the opening keynote speaker at AHRMM this year. I won’t steal his thunder by explaining what in the world a pickle sucker is; you will just have to make sure to see his keynote address. I know that you will not be disappointed.

Joe Tye is a force for positivity in healthcare. He reminds us how important it is to live out those aspects of common kindness and decency that (hopefully) we were all taught as young children, and why it is so important that we neither permit nor promote negativity, gossiping, whining, or complaining. You can check him out at http://www.joetye.com/.

As you prepare to travel to Boston, come ready to learn and network, expect supply chain enlightenment, and remember, let’s be nice out there.

Jon Reiners, CMRP

Countdown for AHRMM11

2011-08-02T11:09:00.001-05:00

It is hard to believe that in just 4 days I will be jetting my way from the sunny South to the not-quite-as-hot Northeast. With temperatures this week in Alabama at and above 100 degrees, I am ready for the 70-80 degrees expected in Boston next week.

My first Conference was in 1994 at the 32nd American Society for Healthcare Materials Management in Ft Worth, Texas. Now, 17 years later and a new name, Association for Healthcare Resource and Materials Management, I look forward to this year's meeting with as much anticipation as my first. This year also marks the 15th Annual Golf Tournament, which is sponsored by McKesson this year.

The Learning Labs this year have eight different tracks and a few changes are noted. The "Distribution" Learning Lab is now called "Logistics" and a brand new "Research" Learning Lab is being offered with three sessions. These sessions will give all attendees the opportunity to choose learning tracks best suited to their needs. With such a wide variety offered, every AHRMM member should have no trouble planning their days of learning.

The three planned General Sessions speakers are all outstanding and should be of great interest to all attendees.

I appreciate the opportunity to blog this year- have spent 3 years on the "Issues and Legislation" Committee ( including one year as Committee Chair), I was beginning to feel a little "out of the loop" without my committee work. I hope my blogs will be informative and interesting.

I have a full week at work - trying to ready the storeroom and my staff with my scheduled off week at AHRMM. If each day is as busy as Monday and Tuesday have shown to be, this will be one wild week!

I plan to write a blog for each session I attend so I may have several short blogs or a long one or two.

Now it is back to work here before AHRMM11 this weekend!

Nancy J Webber, MPH, CMRP

AHRMM11 - A Great Way to Extend Your Network!

2011-08-01T13:59:00.000-05:00

AHRMM is a PeopleFest even for those of us who are more introverted. What I am saying is that AHRMM provides forums – smaller sessions, hallway conversations, new member networking socials for those of us that do better in smaller, more one on one or one on three interactions. These conversations have always provided a way to meet new people, entertain new ideas for our careers, and plant seeds for career growth. So I challenge you to chat with one new person at each learning session, strike up a conversation with someone from another state or country, and extend your network at least one more degree. See you at AHRMM 2011.

Kathi J Pressley

See You at a AHRMM11 Roundtable Session on Sunday!

2011-07-11T11:30:00.003-05:00

Just realized we are less than a month away from AHRMM11; I am looking forward to facilitate the Sustainability Roundtable on Sunday. There are many more folks that I had anticipated signed up for this session. I have always found the Roundtable sessions to be inspirational and definitely a value added to my attendance at AHRMM. I have been involved in several of these offerings over the past few years. The Roundtable sessions tend to be incredibly interactive, on the money in terms of relevance, and more engaging in their informal atmosphere. One of the best I attended was the Chapter Roundtable that has become a staple of the AHRMM Conference Lineup – where you can get practical strategies to grow and engage your regional supply chain professionals. On a personal note, these sessions are less intimidating to the more reserved of us and offer an opportunity to speak up and chat with our peers. So I hope to see you and chat with you at a Roundtable session on Sunday, August 7th.

Kathi J Pressley

Join Me at AHRMM11

2011-06-03T10:47:00.002-05:00

Wow, I can’t believe this will be my last conference as an AHRMM Board member. But I also remember that attending my first AHRMM conference was where my involvement with AHRMM was kindled. I was impressed with the spectrum of educational offerings and the opportunities presented for networking. So I’ve made new lifelong friends, sparked new relationships, strengthened business connections and had a lot of fun along the way. I learned about that the only constant in healthcare is change; I challenged myself as a presenter; I have broadened my professional skills and matured so that I can now mentor others. I hope to present in the next few blogs, the myriad of ways that AHRMM and its annual conference can enhance your career, your personal growth and your roles in your communities.

Kathi J Pressley, AHRMM Board Member

Lead the Charge at AHRMM 11

2011-05-24T16:03:00.000-05:00

Recently, I joined another online networking group, this one regarding quality, which happens to be one of my passions; watch subsequent blog posts for control charts and value stream maps. Hoping for the chance to make new contacts and broaden my knowledge base, I was one of the first to register for the group, which promised to send out weekly status updates regarding new members, discussion topics, posted questions, and other relevant quality news.

In the coming weeks, I was amazed—but not really surprised—to watch the status updates pile up in my inbox showing exponential growth in new members, the total member count, and, strangely, no other news. No discussions, no questions for the group, no brilliant nuggets of newly discovered wisdom from the world of quality. It was as if people signed up for the group and then forgot that it existed. I have witnessed this phenomenon before, and have to ask why this occurs. Could it be that all of these quality-minded professionals have improved their organization’s efficiency to the point that they have reduced their jobs to filling out online registrations for the fun of it simply to pass the time? I rather doubt it.

These people, like me, joined the network in question seeking some tangible value: to learn from others, to draw on their experience and expertise and thereby gain insight into new tools and techniques that they can apply to their own organizations to affect positive change. Sadly, it is very difficult to find this type of networking online, which brings me to the point of this blog. Ahrmm 11 will draw a multitude of professionals from the healthcare supply chain, all of whom you may network with face to face at the conference. Arhmm’s educational sessions are presented by professionals at the leading edge of healthcare supply chain innovation in a manner that is easily understood and completely relevant to the needs of today’s healthcare supply chain.

Come to Ahrmm 11, and learn how to lead the charge of the supply chain revolution. I hope to see you there.

Jon Reiners, CMRP

AHRMM10/August 3 & 4

2010-08-04T13:02:00.001-05:00

Well I hope everyone is enjoying the fantastic weather here in Denver because at home for me in Texas-it is 105!

I really enjoyed the supplier exhibition earlier this week, as it gave me a chance to speak with some people my facility is working with. Of course I saw some familiar faces along the way and made some new friends.

I also found the sessions to be informative - I think AHRMM does a good job at selecting a variety of topics so everyone within healthcare supply chain can find something useful.

The closing speaker did a great job of speaking objectively about healthcare reform and how it relates to our side of the industry.

Anyway - that is it for now. Safe travels and look forward to seeing you in Boston in 2011!

Danny

AHRMM10

2010-08-04T12:58:00.001-05:00

Just want to say what an excellent conference this was before I head off to my last Learning Lab. The Learning Lab presenters have been engaging, have provided excellent succinct slides and have opened the doors to new ways of doing what we have been doing all along - provide quality support to our patients and clinicians.

Dr. Nick Sears really summarized and provided the impetus for us to become key resources as healthcare reform impacts us all.

As the future chair for the AHRMM Conference Education committee, I can promise you more excellent content to come. The conference Education Committee has been listening and looks forward to hearing what you liked and what you want more of.

In the spirit of that Attitude of Gratitude, I thank my fellow Board Members, friends, acquaintances, and peers for your collegial spirit and making this conference so memorable in so many ways.

Kathi J Pressley, AHRMM Board Member

AHRMM10

2010-08-04T09:42:00.001-05:00

WOW. The last two days have been incredible. Steve Rizzo’s opening keynote address was phenomenal. I know a lot of people that could use a little humor in their lives.

My first track Communicating Like a Leader did not disappoint. Dave Kaczmarek delivered another blockbuster presentation with tons of takeaways that can be implemented immediately. My second session, Expediting Savings Through Data Transparency, has given me the knowledge to present and leverage the correct data to key stake holders within my organization to identify and execute savings initiatives. My third session, Supply Chain OR Management, validated my savings initiatives at my organization and gave me some additional strategies.

The best thing about these educational tracks is that the information presented is real life experiences from my colleagues. The Education Committee has truly outdone themselves. I have a new admiration for the members.

The exhibit floor was jam packed. Walking the exhibit floor gave me the opportunity to be exposed to companies that I would have not necessarily have contact with. I also took the opportunity to inquire about current and upcoming technologies.

Overall the conference has been a worthwhile and positive experience. I am looking forward to the rest of the week. So far, I give this experience Six out of Five stars.

Well it’s time to go. I have been up since 5am, and I need to get ready for today’s General Session on Healthcare Reform. This should be really interesting. See you there.

Norberto Molina, CMRP

AHRMM10/Sunday & Monday

2010-08-03T12:53:00.000-05:00

Sunday: We’re here in beautiful downtown Denver and the AHRMM conference has gotten off to a great start. After a walk along Cherry Creek, I freshened up and headed over to the Big Blue Bear Conference Center, not it’s real name, to introduce one of the first sessions – Adopting GS1 Data Standards, Choices and Challenges; the session was informative and geared to grassroots understanding of implementation of GLN and GTIN; the audience was engaged and outstanding, asking informed and thought-provoking questions related to difficulties related to vendor, manufacturer, and MMIS acceptance of these standards.

Then on to the wrap up of 2010 and introduction to the 2011 Conference Education Committee; I am looking forward to almost following in Jeff Wagner’s footsteps, Thank You Trusted Leader, and preparing for next year’s conference with a great group of people.

Enjoyed mingling with the new attendees, while filling in our “Find Someone Who” Bingo cards; I thought the Opening Reception had a great hmm and had a lot of fun finding old friends and making new. The photo and video booths were a crowd pleaser; once again Roberta, Kathi, and Friend Chris put on a great show!

Monday: The Opening Ceremony was led off by a stirring video on Transformation – definitely inspirational and powerful, followed by an equally compelling “call to engagement” by AHRMM President Ray Moore. A moving tribute to a dear colleague, John Brede, brought tears to many eyes. Then we were inspired by contributions and awards to Jean Sargent (George R Gossett) and Bob Perry (Pioneer).

Steve Rizzo challenged us to wake up with gratitude, acknowledge our Humorman, and monitor our attitudes or accept the consequences…..in his Long Island Way.

Then it was off to great and informative sessions. The speakers are doing a great job of bringing grassroots actionables for us to take home. Thanks to the many folks that pulled this agenda together.

Networking was on the top of the agenda as friends and I visited and networked to the various socials and receptions put on by our wonderful vendor sponsors. They each went all out to make sure that we touched base, ate and drank well, and then capped it off by extended dancing at the Med Assets sponsored Hard Rock Café venue. Thank you to All.

See you tomorrow…

AHRMM10/August 2

2010-08-02T14:18:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone remembers their humorous side! Steve Rizzo did a great job of injecting humor into his motivational speech this morning - that got us started on the right note.

I also hope folks enjoyed the reception last night - it's a small world! I bumped into many of my current and former colleagues and it is always fun networking.

I attended some great breakouts this morning and am headed over to the Exhibition as I write this - more to come later!

Danny

Welcome from exiting Denver!

2010-08-02T11:23:00.001-05:00

First day of the AHRMM conference and so far it is meeting all of my expectations. Today was Materials Management 201. This session was conducted by the 2006 AHRMM President Robert Perry. The information was priceless. Robert covered all aspects of materials management. One of the most important take away of this session was the suggestion to create an MM dashboard to keep your customers and superiors informed of all the current projects and initiatives, and report any savings that are being achieved. As Materials Managers, we are constantly influencing our organizations bottom line and are critical to operations, but we shy away from publicizing our successes. This is just one of the many insightful topics that were discussed during this session. I would highly recommend this session to anyone looking to enhance their MM knowledge base.

After this session, I headed over to the Welcome Reception. I was very excited to meet some old friends as well as meet some new ones. I was also able to personally meet some members that I had only dealt with over the phone.

I am looking forward to tomorrow’s opening keynote address as well as attending all of the educational tracks that I signed up for. I am sure that I will not be disappointed. I am hitting the sack early tonight so that I can be fully prepared for the day ahead. I am sure that tomorrow will definitely surpass my expectations. Hope to meet as many of you as I can.

Norberto Molina, CMRP

AHRMM10

2010-08-02T11:19:00.000-05:00

Made it to Denver without a hitch! I hope everyone has safe and comfortable travels on their way to the conference.

I just checked into the hotel and am heading over to the convention center to see what's happening.

This afternoon I will be participating in a Sustainability Focus Group, and I hope to meet some new folks.

I'll be attending several sessions over the next few days and I hope you say hello if you see me.

Remember tonight is the Opening Reception at 6:30 - see everyone there!

Danny

Just started packing...

2010-07-28T09:54:00.000-05:00

Just started packing and got to thinking about previous conferences – getting in touch with my friend Von who will always dance, saying hello to acquaintances between presentations, socializing at the networking functions and going out on the town to one of the vendor sponsored cocktail parties or dinners.

But now for the serious stuff – I am looking forward to the presentations highlighting our most relevant and current issues, to meeting new friends, to discovering new technologies and products at the vendor exhibition, hearing about the success of the Project World fund raiser.

But most of all, I am thinking how lucky we are to attend this premier event that truly elevates our profession and recognizes the contribution of each and everyone of us to our profession and our patients.

Greetings from Sunny New York!

2010-07-27T14:56:00.001-05:00

It has been a busy week preparing for the 2010 AHRMM Conference. I am definitely looking forward to meet with some old friends and colleagues as well as make new acquaintances and business connections. This is my second year attending, and I am excited at this opportunity.

I was very impressed with last year’s conference in Tampa as it gave me the opportunity to network with individuals that I would have never been exposed to if it wasn’t for this venue. The educational tracks were first class, and I could not wait to come home and start implementing what I had learned.

This year’s educational offerings are even better and more challenging. From ER to OR, and from inventory management to Supply Chain Executive, there is an educational track for everyone.

Well, it is time to return to work and leave things in order here before I leave the office. Tonight I pack my bags and prepare for my trip to the AHRMM 2010 Conference in Denver, Colorado. An event that will clearly help shape the future of hospital supply chain. I hope to meet as many of you as possible, and I invite you to check out the AHRMM blogs for up to the minute information and updates on the conference proceedings.

See you in Denver.

Norberto Molina, CMRP

One week to go!

2010-07-26T10:47:00.002-05:00

Looking forward to the start of AHRMM next Sunday, August 1. I learned the hard way that you need to book your hotel well in advance – the first two hotels were already booked, but the folks at AHRMM were able to secure a 3rd hotel within a block of the conference.

Good luck to the golfers who will be participating in the golf tournament in Littleton!

Also, many of you are arriving early to catch the CMRP Overview from 8:30-12:30. I understand that this course is very helpful. For those of you that already have your CMRP, of course you can earn CEU credits toward your certification renewal throughout the conference.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I arrive on time this year, as I was delayed a full day last year due to mechanical issues on my flight.

See you in Denver!

Danny

Only One Month Left to AHRMM10

2010-07-01T10:15:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Can you believe it’s only another month until this year’s AHRMM conference? If you haven’t already registered, you can do so by going to the website: http://www.ahrmm.org/ahrmm_app/conference/annualconf10/index.jsp

I’m especially looking forward to going to Denver – it has one of the best downtowns in America. The great public transportation makes it easy to maneuver around the city.

If you’re new to AHRMM this year, I want to point out that there is a First-Time Attendee & New Member Orientation session from 5-6pm on Sunday, August 1. Since I actually missed it last year, I may try to attend myself this year.

One of the great things about networking at AHRMM is that it draws hospitals providers, suppliers of all stripes, and GPOs. We all share a common goal to improve the quality of care in the most efficient way possible. I’m looking forward to meeting some new folks as well as catching up with some old colleagues.

See you soon!

Danny

One Month Left to AHRMM10 in Denver

2010-06-28T10:02:00.000-05:00

Just realized we are just one month from AHRMM10 in Denver; attendance is up from last year at this time and so hopefully we will see long time friends and make new friends. As a Board member I am excited by this year’s conference in Denver; not only is it in my neck of the woods but the format brings changes from last year. Our Chapter Roundtable session is back to a new time slot to encourage your participation. Sessions are current and geared to bring ACTIONables back to your organization.

The AHRMM conferences are a great way to kick start more involvement in our Supply Chain Profession. Not only can you acquire Continuing Education credits, but you will broaden your professional network, glean from your peer’s experiences and even decide to become more involved in AHRMM. The changes in governance, in that once you meet the criteria, may lure you into running for one of the Board seats – you are no longer limited to a geographical region.

Just a glimmer at what’s ahead – hope to see your there at one of the Networking Sessions. Kathi J Pressley, AHRMM Board Member

AHRMM10 at Denver

2010-05-26T12:13:00.002-05:00

Hey there everyone!

Summer is quickly approaching and it’s time to start thinking about our upcoming AHRMM conference in Denver Aug 1-4, 2010.

There is still time to register at http://www.ahrmm.org/ahrmm_app/conference/annualconf10/index.jsp

If you haven’t been to Denver before, you’re going to have a blast – Denver is one my favorite cities.

This will be my second AHRMM conference, and I look forward to seeing everyone this year. I will again be sharing my experiences “from the ground” in the AHRMM blog, hopefully with a more seasoned perspective.

After reviewing the brochure, I see the educational tracks will be very informative. Another great thing about AHRMM is learning about the current trends, issues, and best practices from healthcare supply chain colleagues around the country.

I encourage everyone to take advantage of the great networking opportunity and learn from folks from different areas of the supply chain. I personally hope to brush up on the latest in spend analytics, and maybe learn about the impacts of healthcare reform.

Until next time!

Danny

Life After Efficient Healthcare Consumer Response (ECHR)

2010-02-01T14:21:00.004-06:00

Today’s webinar offered many of us a chance to take an outside view of healthcare supply chain and look inward. While we have spent the last decade or so working on improving the healthcare supply chain, the focus in this area really didn’t get started until the 1990s.

Starting with a 1996 study, Dr. Heather Nachtmann and Dr. Edward Pohl started researching cost inefficiencies in the healthcare supply chain and identify the opportunities for improvement. They conducted a cost-analysis from top-down and bottom-up to identify $23 Billion in process costs such as inventory management, order management and logistics. The authors also outlined a set of challenges, attempted savings initiatives, and strategic improvements broken into business type (manufacturer, GPO, distributor, provider).

The advent of e-commerce has had the greatest impact not just in healthcare but every major industry. I started working for a GPO in early 2001, and I have witnessed an amazing evolution of EDI order management. It has reduced labor and paper costs, as well as contributed indirectly to an improvement in inventory management. The results of the survey show the increase in e-commerce transactions, which is also one of the top strategic initiatives of the study.

Reviewing the rest of the survey results shows that GPOs have taken a lead on many of the other initiatives, except inventory management, which is the core business of distributors. An important element to remember is that each of the stakeholders are interconnected, and that achieving greater efficiency in each step of supply chain will be better for all.

The good news is that healthcare supply chain continues to gain merit among other parts of the industry, and we have more tools and resources available compared to 1996 that can guide us to faster cost efficiencies.

Academic Webinar: Hospital Supply Chain Management in the Future Healthcare Landscape

2009-11-17T11:14:00.006-06:00

Wow – what a daunting task we all have ahead of us – to make sure we better connect all of the stakeholders in the healthcare supply chain to ensure better patient care and eliminate inefficiencies in the system.

Of course this is much easier said than done, but Ken Thomas highlights some great points about looking more globally and prospectively at future healthcare trends. Efficiency should be the goal of every part of the supply chain – from patients to providers to payers. Going forward, a successful healthcare organization will be judged by its performance in supply chain management. While we have various metrics today to rate hospitals, the dynamic nature of the industry will demand much stronger emphasis on efficiency in the supply chain.

At the end of the day, supply chain needs to balance patient care with the business objectives of the organization. I think many of us who have worked with Value Analysis in some capacity try to strike this balance every day. For example, when we try evaluate a safe, efficable product for patient use, we try to negotiate the lowest cost possible with our supply partners.

Ken notes that supply chain performance can actually impact patient care such as timeliness of diagnosis, delivery of therapy, and reduction of secondary effects. He believes that decreasing costs and improving efficiency will result in higher volume in patient care, and thus increasing revenue for an HCO.

I think that depends on the type of hospital and whether it is non-profit or for-profit.
We should have a collaborative patient-centric supply chain that addresses the clinical and non-clinical needs of all stakeholders.

Click here to read more about upcoming Academic Webinars or to order a copy of the Hospital Supply Chain Management in the Future Healthcare Landscape Academic Webinar on CD-ROM.

Academic Webinar: Physician Preference Item Management

2009-11-03T10:31:00.004-06:00

I’m sure many of us cringe when we think about physician preference item management. After all, it is one of the toughest areas to focus on in healthcare supply chain.

Natalia Wilson offered a great perspective in this webinar because she has been involved in PPIM research, and is also a practicing clinician.

I could relate to this topic because I am currently working with a Teaching Hospital in Dallas, TX on PPIM in Orthopedics. We have decided to pursue a capitated pricing strategy for total hip implants. We are currently a sole-source, which doesn’t offer much leverage with price negotiations. After meeting with some of the physicians and VP Surgical Services, we have been given permission to “crack the door open” to achieve better pricing. While we realize the docs are not going to switch product, they will at least trial some competitive products to put pressure on our sole-source vendor to provide more savings.

We have followed much of Natalia’s suggested strategy of engaging our internal and external stakeholders, and have been fortunate to receive buy-in from our physicians. Many of you work with well-renowned physicians and do not have the luxury of strong engagement. That is why it is important to understand and support what brings value to your docs.

Natalia also mentioned one of the difficulties of PPIM is access to good data. I cannot stress enough the importance of good data. If nothing else, a physician is more likely to evaluate reports or statistics if they are backed up by supporting information. There are some good tools that can provide dashboards or benchmarking studies such as ECRI, MD Buyline, SpendLINK (UHC) or Spend Compass (Advisory Board).

Looking at the broader view of a PPIM strategy, however, Natalia summarized the evaluation of the following areas:
1) Management within Supply Chain
2) Role of Internal & External Stakeholders
3) Physician Engagement Strategies
4) Education and Communication

While I won’t go into any more detail of each of these, I did want to stress that Executive Support is crucial to Physician Preference Item Management. With the current economic malaise, HCO’s are looking at high cost areas in the supply chain, which may provide opportunities in PPIM that didn’t exist before.

Click here to read more about upcoming Academic Webinars or to order a copy of the Physician Preference Item Management Academic Webinar on CD-ROM.

Academic Webinar: Fundamental Shifts in the US Healthcare System

2009-10-06T10:59:00.004-05:00

While most of us are probably focusing on our own functional roles within our organizations, it is easy to forget the big picture issues facing the healthcare supply chain.

Given the complexity of healthcare and the current political climate, I have personally started paying attention to issues and trends that may affect my company and part of the supply chain. I work for a GPO and they are again facing scrutiny from the Senate Subcommittee for supposed anti-competitive business practices. Of course I think any company or sector of healthcare is an easy target if they are large or profitable.

I thought Dr. Singh did a great job of discussing the major shifts (i.e. Demographics, technology changes, physician trends, etc.) that will be evolving over the next several years. One example he discussed was a shifting disease pattern and the continuously increasing cost of treatment. He suggested a shift from acute care to chronic care, which will put even greater strain in the supply chain in the coming years.

Another example that Dr. Singh referenced was a shifting technology focus. “Health care has not witnessed technology cost reduction”. I do not think anyone can necessarily make that generalization. Since I’ve been working with a large hospital in Dallas the past 2 years, I have seen them move from manual, paper-based ordering to utilizing EDI and also upgrading their MMIS system to Lawson. This is a perfect example of how technology has resulted in operational cost reduction.

One of the my biggest takeaways from Dr. Singh’s presentation is that we should all have a 10-15 year view instead of a 2-3 year view, keeping in mind all of the different shifts. We tend to be reactive in our roles instead of proactive. It is amazing what we can learn from someone from the outside looking in.

Click here to read more about upcoming Academic Webinars or to order a copy of the Fundamental Shifts in the US Healthcare System Academic Webinar on CD-ROM.

Academic Webinar - Supply Chains and the Surgical Suite: Measuring the Impact of Best Practices on Financial and Operational Performance

2009-10-06T10:52:00.006-05:00

Dr. Vicki Smith-Daniels and Dr. Dwight Smith-Daniels have conducted extensive research into improving the financial and operational performance in the OR suite. One of the main reasons for their research is the lack of empirical evidence in the healthcare supply chain industry. To broaden the scope of their research, they looked at the manufacturing industry for evidence of best practices. Manufacturing uses an evidence-based approach and incorporates practices such as lean manufacturing or Six Sigma.

Measuring performance and quantifying the results is difficult - especially since many healthcare organizations rely on distributors, GPOs and/or consultants to provide tools and resources for performance measurement. In addition, best practices tend to be limited to one hospital provider or system, rather than a group of providers.

The research has shown that some of the important elements of high performance supply chains in the surgical suite include physician engagement, value analysis, analytics, and IS Integration. Clinical collaboration is essential in best practices because the stakeholders include end-users, physicians, as well as supply chain staff.

Through one of the online polls conducted, we learn that two of the greatest factors in surgical suite improvement include inventory monitoring and custom procedure packs. Since the results were taken across several hospital organizations, it allows us to start building evidence toward a best practice.

The presenters stressed that practices over time build capabilities which breed better performance. Successful supply chain strategies will move from short-term focus to long-term sustainability.

Click here to read more about upcoming Academic Webinars or to order a copy of the Supply Chains and the Surgical Suite: Measuring the Impact of Best Practices on Financial and Operational Performance Academic Webinar on CD-ROM.

AHRMM09 - Wednesday, July 22, 2009

2009-07-27T15:55:00.001-05:00

Day 4: Yes, it was worth the humidity, the exercise running back and forth and all the words exchanged with vendors, cultivating new friendships and renewing relationships put on hold by distance and business. The highlight of the Buccaneer Bash was definitely the people and the dancing – I think we have an opportunity on the gastronomic side :)

This morning I made new acquaintances while doing my final presentation of the conference. Thanks to all who attended for the comments and insights; it’s nice to know there are others having similar challenges. My final Learning Lab was on the Zen Commute; I saw several many folks I knew including at least five AHRMM Board members listening how to become more mindful and more aware of our paying attention in our daily lives.

AfterBurn – what a great choice for a Closing Session; it was high energy, had concepts that could be readily incorporated into any culture and sent off on our way.

Thank you to all the folks that came up and addressed themselves to me, thank you to new friends, apologies to friends I couldn’t spend more time with but that’s what conferences are all about. Missions accomplished – networking, education, fun and laughter….see you next year in Denver.

AHRMM09 - Wednesday, July 22, 2009

2009-07-27T15:54:00.001-05:00

As I prepare for my trip home, I wanted to say what a great conference this was for me as a first-time attendee. One of the last sessions I attended was 'More Best Practices in Materials Management', which really outlined some of the high points for a successful supply chain strategy.

Since this was my first time, I could not gauge what the attendance level was compared to previous years. I am guessing that there may have been a few less attendees after conversations with my peers. I think one of the successes of AHRMM is that the networking and education offered is easily applied into our daily jobs, which really makes the entire span of healthcare a better place. I am glad that the things I've learned and continue to learn in this setting allow me to have a direct impact at my job.

I wanted to say thanks to all of the sponsors, exhibitors, facilitators, and other attendees - everyone working together made this experience worthy of our time. And a special thanks to Tracey Heusner, who let me gab continuously the last few days!

I wish everyone good luck and safe travels - see you next year in Denver!

AHRMM09 - Wednesday, July 22, 2009

2009-07-27T15:53:00.000-05:00

I am missing the closing of the conference in order to catch my flight home, so I will give my own closing remarks. (Thanks, no applause, really, thanks . . )

To begin, let me say, what a terrific conference. Benchmarking , evidence based process improvement, if you don't report to your CFO, now is the time to start creating your own report and getting the CFO to notice your contributions, great vendor exhibits, and sharp, informed new contacts are only a portion of what I am taking away with me, back to Cincinnati's Jewish Hospital and our IDN, the Health Alliance. Thank you to the faculty, organizers, vendor sponsors and AHA.

I'm looking forward to AHRMM10 in Denver and may attend whether my hospital pays or not. One of my favorite snippets of information is the ratio of cost of attending to the typical savings in dollars generated by implementing lessons learned: 1:3. Even more exciting is $1 saved in Supply costs can generate overall hospital savings of up to $25. I've got to go now and start implementing, benchmarking, data gathering, report writing . . .

Thanks to Tracey Heusner of AHA. Hope I wasn't to much of a pain. Good luck to all!

AHRMM09 - Tuesday, July 21, 2009

2009-07-27T15:52:00.000-05:00

After a full day of supplier exhibit, I noticed the traffic was down a bit as I was working the UHC booth over the lunch hour. I think most folks probably got around to meeting with their suppliers on Monday. I did like the setup for the supplier exhibition because I got to exchange some business cards, and then talk to many reps either at the hotel bar or at the Buccaneer Bash.

Speaking of the Bash, I was happy to see a large turnout. I really didnâ€™t know what to expect since this was my first conference. I was not able to stay for long as my group had dinner reservations, but everyone seemed to be having a good time.

I caught a couple of the morning sessions at the convention center, but took a break in the afternoon to exercise, and catch up on email. I think most of us can relate to full mailbox!
Only half a day left on Wednesday and then it’s back to the real world!

AHRMM09 - Tuesday, July 21, 2009

2009-07-27T15:51:00.000-05:00

Day 3:
Whew, such a whirlwind for a newbie Board member. I thank all the current Board and new friends for their support. We started with Leadership Breakfast where 32 chapters and at least 8 committees were honored for their hardwork and dedication. The diverse efforts of all these individuals truly makes our professional associations stand out..

I attended the Physician panel and was gratified to hear the thoughtful questions by AHRMM attendees and sincere responses by the Physician Panel. Nick Sears did a great job as a moderator. It was also interesting to listen to the input from our Member from the United Kingdom. It was truly gratifying to circulate through the vendor fair. “The vendors were appreciative of all attendees visits and most vowed to return to Denver during the first week of August for AHRMM #48. Then I was off to make my presentation on “You’re the Proud Owner of a Brand New or Slightly Used…. Clinic, Service Line, Physician Practice” followed up by Dave Kaczmarek’s presentation challenging us to be Supply Chain Executives by next year. You’re On Dave….

Now I am off to the pool for some sun and then to the Buccaneer Bash. See you there, Kathi

AHRMM09 - Tuesday, July 21, 2009

2009-07-27T15:50:00.001-05:00

Who else enjoys AHRMM09 for the vendors exhibits? Meeting the reps, listening to them tell your colleagues about wonders that are their products, services, websites, magazines. Even a simple lunch can be educational, or in my case, therapeutic. I like hearing colleagues have similar problems and stresses.

The conference serves an important function just bringing Supply Chain professionals together to chat and interact.

AHRMM09 - Tuesday, July 21, 2009

2009-07-27T15:49:00.002-05:00

AHRMM09 Day two

Eight minutes until the fourth Learning Lab at 7:30 am after a fun night of, how shall I say, networking. Very brieflly: New contacts, new vendors, new opportunities, new ideas.

A great openinng by Ross Shafer. Imagine getting your clients, patients, customers, to love you. What a message! The Supply Chain business continues to develop. Beverly Slate says I need to bring my CFO up to speed on what my Distribution Department can do and how we are crucial to saving bucks for the hospital. Two other learning labs and much, uh, networking, . . . later.

AHRMM09 - Monday, July 20, 2009

2009-07-27T15:46:00.002-05:00

Day 2 had us up early for a AHRMM Board photo shoot with our illustrious President winning the JJ Award for being in place last! Our keynote speaker, Ross Shafer, of pet store and news anchor fame, was engaging and amusing. Great Thoughts and illustrations to muse on.

I then attended a Learning Lab – Finance and Materials Management Working Together which provided some new avenues for collaboration with our Patient Charge experts. Then it was off to the Vendor Fair; we are so blessed to have vendor partners to support this Conference. A round table interactive session was my final stop. Here AHRMM affiliates and chapter leaders shared ideas on how to become more successful in a sustainable manner. The new Chapter Leader Resource materials were shared and all participants took away new ideas to enable their chapters to better meet their member needs. Please see the Members section of the http://www.ahrmm.org/.

Then we were off to a host of vendor receptions; thanks for the introductions, great company and snacks. See you all in the am!

AHRMM09 - Monday, July 20, 2009

2009-07-27T15:44:00.004-05:00

Wow- I hope everyone had as an eventful day as myself. After finally arriving to the hotel at noon, I quickly proceeded to check-in and attend the supplier exhibition.

It was great catching up with some old colleagues and supply partners. The exhibition was impressive and it was a great mix of providers, suppliers, and GPOs. Lunch was also appreciated after rushing from the airport.

While I missed the opening speaker, the feedback was that Ross Shafer did an outstanding job. I did attend some of the educational sessions and they were both standing-room only. This tells me that the topics are very relevant to what's going on in supply chain.

Tonight several of the exhibitors will be hosting receptions and dinners, which I hope you can attend. (I will be with my UHC colleagues and some our members)

So far it looks like this year's AHRMM is off to a great start-looking forward to the days ahead!

AHRMM09 - Sunday, July 19, 2009

2009-07-27T15:41:00.005-05:00

Day 1:Not sure where to start since my first blog got lost in the ozone. It has been a whirlwind here as a “ newbie” Board member. Day 1, Board mentor and friend, Liz V, and I got to play golf at the AHRMM golf tournament. All proceeds from the tournament go towards Project Perfect World and their missions to South America – most recently two spine surgeries and approximately 30 orthopedic surgeries. Very inspiring not to mention a little damp as a thunder and lightening storm passed us by. The tournament was well attended by corporate and individual groups of golfers. Hope to see you next year.

Talk about inspiring; it was very reassuring to meet future AHRMM members and attendees at the New Member Reception. All the AHRMM region representatives sounded off and welcomed new attendees. Jay Kirkpatrick averred that the 47th AHRMM conference being held on the 40th Anniversary of the moon landing was going to be exceptional.

The Main reception followed with attendees bustling around sampling hors d’oevres and introducing themselves to new and more recently met friends. In all too short a time, friends and I hustled off to the President’s Reception where key leaders and vendors socialized. This is one of the perks of volunteerism!

It was a busy first day, only a hint of the next day to follow.

AHRMM09 - Sunday, July 19, 2009

2009-07-27T15:40:00.004-05:00

Anticipation

The conference is about to begin. I have my schedule of learning labs, my conference bag, and a cup of coffee. The day promises to be filled with new information, ways of doing things, and new names and faces. This has been coming for a long time. I'm full of questions. In these tough times, will my hospital be willing to innovate? Will my organization be open to the advances I'll bring back from this conference? Will I only be able to apply the learing to my own department and the work we do for our 209 bed hospital? Too soon to tell.

AHRMM09 - Sunday, July 19, 2009

2009-07-19T15:50:00.009-05:00

Hello AHRMM attendees,

Welcome to Tampa! While I am actually still in transit, I hope everyone has safe travels. If you are a first time attendee, be sure and attend the New Member Orientation, which starts at 5pm today.

The conference will provide great opportunities for networking, education, and catching up on the latest in healthcare supply chain.

I hope to connect with as many folks as possible. Feel free to contact me claus@uhc.edu.

Introducing James Fothergill

2009-07-17T16:52:00.010-05:00

My name is Jim Fothergill. It will be my pleasure to blog as an attendee of AHRMM09. Currently, I am the Manager of Material Distribution for The Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati. My materials background began thirteen years ago when I became the Pharmacy Buyer for that same hospital. Prior to that I was a Pharmacy Technician for several years. My current responsibilities include operations management for the medical and surgical supply staff, linen distribution, mailroom operations, and receiving dock operations. Each of these areas includes a bit of IT administration. That brings me to blogging and this opportunity to provide my impressions and observations from this year's conference.

The Director of Supply Chain for our six hospital IDN, The Health Alliance asked me to attend AHRMM09 as a representative. It will be an excellent chance for me to learn from experts and thought leaders who will be presenting the state-of-the-art seminars and other presentations at the conference. Networking and hobnobbing with those same folks along with a plethora of vendors will also be high on my agenda. I have attended a Technology Conference presented by the AHRMM in 2006, in Chicago and took home a great deal of information and learning from it.

If you see me at a seminar or associated event, stop, introduce yourself, and give me some of your impressions.

Introducing Danny Claus

2009-07-06T16:37:00.004-05:00

Greetings fellow AHRMM09 attendees!

I wanted to first introduce myself — my name is Danny Claus, and I am from Dallas, TX. I currently work for University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) in a consultative role onsite at Parkland Hospital. My primary job goal is to identify and help implement non-salary cost reduction.

I’ve been working in healthcare supply chain for almost 9 years in various capacities between Novation, VHA, and now UHC. I received my CMRP certification in 2008.

I am looking forward to attending my first AHRMM conference this year and hope to meet other supply chain professionals, as well as catch up with old friends & coworkers. I will be writing about my experiences on the AHRMM blog so please check back.

In addition to networking, I am eager to attend several of the educational tracks that AHRMM offers to expand my supply chain background. I have included AHRMM in my professional development plan, and would also like to get involved with my local chapter.

I hope everyone enjoys a great conference – see you in sunny Florida!

Introducing Kathi Pressley

2009-07-06T16:23:00.009-05:00

Hello, this is Kathi Pressley, Director of Materials Management for Olympic Medical Center; we are a medium sized rural facility. Our patient based is 70% for both outpatient activity, significantly contributed to by several outpatient clinics, and government payees. I have worked in the healthcare community for 22 years, uniting paramedic training, business acumen, and growing experience in the healthcare field. I believe in enhancing day to day learning moments and volunteer contributions to our profession. That is why I wanted to “blog”.

I am attending AHRMM09 as a freshman AHRMM Board member, Representing Region 9, essentially the West Coast. I have had great mentors ever since I applied for a scholarship to my first AHRMM meeting almost ten years ago. I want to encourage new members to ARHMM to become more involved; there are many opportunities as members of affiliate professional groups, speakers or simply introducing speakers.

AHRMM09 is a great opportunity to see beyond the demanding focus of your facility to the myriad of changes within our field and meet peers with diversified perspectives.

Check Back for Live Updates from AHRMM09

2009-06-02T17:21:00.009-05:00

Follow conference attendees as they blog about their experiences at AHRMM's Annual Conference & Exhibition, AHRMM09, July 19-22, 2009 in Tampa, Florida.

Check back soon for more updates!