Publisher’s Letter

Functioning at the Top of Your Licensure

Recently, I interviewed Steve Kiewiet, vice president, supply chain operations and interim co-chief supply chain officer with BJC HealthCare, for the Healthcare Supply Chain Radio podcast. Steve is one of this year’s Ten People to Watch in Healthcare Contracting, and has a lot of valuable insights.

One-point Steve made in our conversation really stuck with me – the idea that his job is to ensure all the clinicians his department supports operate at the top of their licensure. Said another way, if we had frontline caregivers giving more care and doing less searching, procuring, and evaluating supplies, an incredible amount of time and focus could be given back to the patient. I have heard estimates as high as 30 percent of a nurse’s time is consumed chasing down supplies. This seems like an incredible waste. How great would it be if we could give 8, 10 or 12 percent of a clinician’s time back so they could focus on care, outcomes, and quality of life for patients?

It’s a simple but powerful notion of trying to get everyone to work at the top of their capabilities. I think it is a lofty goal and a great way for Supply Chain Leaders to see how they are contributing to clinical quality and patient outcomes. If you’d like to listen to the entire conversation, you can find the podcast at www.JHConline.com, Click on podcast, or go to iTunes and search Healthcare Supply Chain Radio.

On another note, our December issue will have a feature story on Women in Healthcare Supply Chain. In this feature, we will profile the women leaders of today and tomorrow working in the Healthcare Supply Chain. Nominations are now open and we have many highly qualified and interesting candidates. If you would like to nominate someone, please drop me an email at jpritchard@ShareMovingMedia.com and I will direct you to the nomination page.

Thanks for reading this issue of The Journal of Healthcare Contracting!

John Pritchard