Vizient Associate Vice President, Core Tenet Programs, Environmental Sustainability
December 2023- The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
Cristina Indiveri guides the strategy of Vizient’s Environmental Sustainability Program while accelerating Vizient’s leadership in sustainability practices across healthcare. She collaborates across a wide set of functions to employ solutions and insights to reduce negative human and environmental health impacts while empowering smart, sustainable, resilient choices. Indiveri also has the honor of facilitating the Environmental Advisory Council, a group of healthcare sustainability leaders who offer critical strategic guidance in support of Vizient’s broad Environmental Sustainability objectives and key results.
In what ways has the market changed that makes supply chain more important to hospitals and health systems?
In the current market environment, supply chain and spend management have the ability to drive holistic value to provider organizations by making every single dollar go farther. Instead of solely focusing on up-front cost, healthcare organizations can influence and drive performance through additional value drivers such as supply assurance, supplier diversity and environmental sustainability which improve the health of patients and communities.
What are 1-2 of the biggest challenges facing supply chain teams today?
One of the greatest challenges facing supply chain teams is the inflationary market along with ongoing supply disruptions which are driving up expenses and creating new economic pressures. Approximately half of the hospitals in the U.S. finished 2022 with a negative margin as increased expenses outpaced revenue. While there have been many improvements toward stabilizing the supply chain, the rising tide of expenses will continue to be a challenge.
Secondly, the call to prioritize environmental sustainability and decarbonization efforts are additional global challenges which will require sector-wide collaboration. Partnership across the healthcare ecosystem is taking shape. Providers, suppliers, group purchasing organizations and non-profit organizations are leaning in because sustainability offers a robust value proposition by yielding cost savings, increasing supply resiliency, improving efficiency and is essential for public health and safety.
When you hear words like diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, what does that mean to you? How can prioritizing these values contribute to the success of an organization?
It means all workers can flourish within the workplace. For me, diversity, equity and inclusion equates to showing up authentically, growing and becoming my best self and having the flexibility to fail forward. Diversity, equity and inclusion are critical because in addition to improving employee satisfaction and retention, these are drivers of collaboration, creativity, empowerment, resilience and adaptability.
Harvard Business Review found that every 0.1 improvement in DEI ratings for a company (on a 5-point scale) was linked to a corresponding 13% increase in the change-power score (ability to change) on average. If organizations want to increase their ability to change (I don’t know one company satisfied with the status quo), DEI are non-negotiable elements of workplace culture.
What is a recent project or initiative you’ve been excited to work on?
To accelerate climate action across the health care sector, I’m representing Vizient as an advisory council member in a new, emerging independent decarbonization coalition that will include providers, suppliers, and non-governmental organizations. The objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through broad-scale collaboration, data transparency and commitment to improving public health and safety. Sustainability and decarbonization require commitment from the entire healthcare ecosystem and by participating in this project, the sector is partnering to ensure the health of patients, communities, and future generations while benefitting from social and economic rewards.
How do you focus on your growth as a leader?
I try to keep in mind a multi-pronged approach by focusing on the big picture, on others and myself. As a sustainability professional, I view myself as a change agent within the global healthcare community. My role is to question decisions and evaluate how they will play out in the future. Not only is it essential to focus on current initiatives, but to explore new possibilities and advance towards the “purple unicorn” or imagined, ideal future states.
Focusing on others is rooted in building relationships, emotional intelligence and empathy. I try to understand the needs of others in hopes of creating win-win scenarios and aligned priorities.
Focusing on myself equates to self-awareness and reflection. It means listening to my gut to judge decisions. While I can attest this method is not always foolproof, it can certainly assist in better decision making and lessons learned for the future. I try to uphold these principles to grow – as a leader and a change maker.