Big challenges call for big solutions.
“Hospitals and health systems will need considerable – not incremental – reductions to properly manage the financial pressures they are facing,” said Premier Chief Operating Officer Mike Alkire, delivering his keynote address at Premier’s recent Breakthroughs Conference. “This will require integrated processes that are consistently reviewed to more appropriately use resources, value analysis and clinical decision-making practices that have a significant impact on building a sustainable future for healthcare.”
More than 4,000 clinicians, administrators, healthcare experts and suppliers attended the conference in Nashville, June 5-8.
Innovation Celebration
Innovative products and technologies deemed capable of helping providers administer safer, more efficient healthcare were showcased at Premier’s Innovation Celebration. The technologies – selected by a committee of clinicians and other Premier alliance members – focused on preventing harmful events, such as hospital-acquired infections and medication errors, as well as improving response to emergency situations while eliminating wasteful care. Any supplier, regardless of whether the company is contracted with Premier, can be considered for participation.
“Innovation Celebration attendees and participants share Premier’s commitment to getting the highest quality, most innovative products into the hands of care providers,” said Premier’s President of Supply Chain Services Durral Gilbert.
This year’s innovative technologies were:
- Xenex PX-426 UV room disinfection system using pulsed-xenon ultraviolet (Xenex).
- Echo PS Positioning System for hernia repair (Davol Inc.).
- SpikeRight® Plus enteral delivery technology (Nestle Health Science).
- WOUNDCHEK™ Protease Status diagnostic test for wound care (Systagenix).
- NeoPAP infant CPAP therapy (Philips Children’s Medical Ventures).
- EQUANOX™ Model 7600 Regional Oximetry System (Nonin Medical).
- Spectra Shield N95 Surgical Respirator (American Medical Depot).
- ClearWay™ Local Therapeutic Infusion Catheter (Atrium Medical Corp.).
- CARESTREAM DRX-Revolution Mobile X-Ray System (Carestream Health).
- CARDIOHELP portable heart-lung support solution (MAQUET Medical Systems USA).
- MIC-KEY*SF Gastronomy Tube with Secure Flow Technology and balloon indicator (Kimberly-Clark Health Care).
- Seca 284 wireless measuring station (seca).
- Philips InnerSense Esophageal Temperature/Feeding Tube (Philips Healthcare).
- CorrectInject™ Safety System to minimize risk of wrong-route delivery of epidural medications (510(k) pending) (Smiths Medical).
- SW Behavioral Health Bed™ (Sizewise).
- Sizewise Envy™ Line of sustainable surfaces (Sizewise).
- TransCu O2® portable tissue oxygenation system (EO2™ Concepts).
- The Compass digital pressure device for catheter placement (Mirador Biomedical).
- SAVII handheld ventilator (Automedx).
Meanwhile, Premier’s Clinical Innovation Series featured nine educational sessions by clinical thought leaders focused on issues ranging from patient safety and preventing healthcare-associated infections, to parenteral nutrition and developing treatment models for patients with severe sepsis. Clinical procedures, diagnostic practices and therapeutic interventions that can cost-effectively improve the quality of care were topics of discussion.
Awards
Approximately 150 hospitals, health systems and suppliers were recognized for their efforts to provide high-value care at low cost. Among them were 40 hospitals and health systems that were honored for exceptional supply chain performance and innovation, and six hospitals that were honored for delivering high-value healthcare as a part of the Premier’s QUEST®: High Performing Hospitals collaborative.
The following Premier members received the 2012 ASCEND Peak Performance award for exceptional supply chain performance:
- Daughters of Charity Health System, Los Altos Hills, Calif.
- St. Anthony’s Medical Center, St. Louis (for the second consecutive year).
- University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio.
- Edward Hospital, Naperville, Ill.
- Alegent Health, Omaha, Neb.
- West Jefferson Medical Center, Marrero, La.
ASCEND hospitals reduce costs by identifying and implementing performance improvements using data-driven clinical and supply chain analytics, while sharing best practices with the collaborative. Members use simplified and consistent purchasing processes, appropriate clinical utilization and specially negotiated contracts. ASCEND Peak Performance winners were selected based on their commitment to supply chain efficiency through contract implementation; willingness to share best practices during ASCEND educational sessions; and submission of timely, accurate data to properly scale performance improvement opportunities.
The 316 ASCEND hospitals represent $6.9 billion in supply chain purchasing volume and more than 53,000 hospital beds. Participants benefit from 136 suppliers and 231 contracts, according to Premier. To date, more than $115 million in savings has been identified across the collaborative.
Diversity Award
Premier recognized Catholic Health Partners of Cincinnati and Cardinal Health of Dublin, Ohio, with the Diversity Award.
The alliance member award identifies Premier member hospitals and health systems that have established active programs to evaluate and support contracted minority-, women-, veteran-owned, and small business enterprises available through the Premier portfolio. Of the more than 2,600 hospitals in the Premier alliance eligible for this award, Catholic Health Partners was the only health system to receive this distinction.
The supplier award for diversity recognizes Premier contracted suppliers that support efforts to increase purchases from diverse suppliers and provide economic development opportunities for communities throughout the United States. Of the more than 1,000 suppliers contracted with Premier eligible for this award, Cardinal Health was the only organization to receive this distinction.
Premier recognized one additional hospital and supplier with honorable mentions for their programs to support supplier diversity: Detroit (Mich.) Medical Center and Owens & Minor Medical Inc. of Mechanicsville, Va. (recognized for the second year in a row as an honorable mention).