Archive for February, 2009
Michigan Leads In Healthcare Vendor Management Path
An article this past weekend in the Detroit Free Press highlighted the leading edge activities of hospitals and healthcare systems in Detroit and throughout Michigan in balancing vendor access and influence with fiscal responsibility and patient safety.
Vendor management touches many facets of healthcare operations, and the quotes in the reflect much of this. Tiffin Kaczkowski, DMM of Oakwood, comments on insuring patient safety by managing training and immunizations of visiting HCIRs. Ed Grima, corporate compliance at Beaumont, focused on eliminating inappropriate influence in the buy decision.
These two health systems are just some of the 29 hospitals across five health systems in Michigan that have turned to Vendormate to manage their vendor compliance and credentialing programs. We’re proud to be part of this state’s leading efforts.
Need to Register with a Vendormate vendor program in Michigan?
2 comments February 23, 2009
Do You Need a “Twitter” Policy for the OR?
We’ve heard the tale from one healthcare system that experienced a sales rep using his mobile phone camera to take unauthorized pictures of a procedure without system or patient consent. And any number of our healthcare customers have policies in place restricting the use of mobile phones and cameras in patient procedural areas.
But what about Twitter?
The micro-blog service lets users post updates of the minutiae of their lives (E.g., “I’m thinking about lunch.” “Headed down Fifth St.”) from their mobile phones so that friends can keep up moment by moment. While none of my friends are so interesting that I need this kind of currency, the service has been booming.
So when I read on CNN.com that the surgeons at Henry Ford Center in Detroit “twittered” the play by play and outcome of an unnamed patient’s kidney surgery, I was intrigued.
I’m sure Henry Ford Legal, PR, and medical staff discussed the situation before proceeding. I’m confident that the patient in question was fully versed and amenable. But will this become a habit? A standard operating procedure?
Is this already covered in HIPAA acknoweldgements? Or do healthcare providers need to create still another policy? “I acknowledge and agree that I will not Twitter, Facebook, or otherwise alert my social networks to procedures involving patients at this hospital without express consent of the patient and the hospital staff.”
Add comment February 17, 2009
Turnaround
It’s no secret that vendor credentialing requirements and registrations aren’t popular in the vendor community. But C. R. Bard has flipped new registration program announcements from a perceived bar across the door to a door opener.
One enterprising Regional VP took Vendormate’s recent announcement of Detroit Medical Center’s decision to use Vendormate VISION as a customer touchpoint. A quick email to the supply chain director reinforced that C. R. Bard is keeping up with DMC and ready to get to work.
I hope you are well these days! I wanted to let you know that I received an e-mail from Vendormate regarding the effective date of DMC’s agreement with them.
I have sent out a message to all C. R. Bard reps and managers who cover DMC facilities, requesting they sign up immediately.
They’re all pretty familiar with this process, so I am certain they will get it taken care of soon, but wanted to let you know that the word has gone out.
Her payoff? A simple touch to the director has been forwarded to three other contacts at DMC, including a corporate VP. A sales professional’s dream. Visibility up the ladder.
Sidebar: Do you work with Detroit Medical Center? Register here.
Add comment February 11, 2009
