SMI Releases Six New Resources Focused on Evolving Supply Chain Across the Continuum of Care 

Servicing the Continuum of CareWestborough, MA (December 7, 2017):   The Strategic Marketplace Initiative (SMI®), a non-profit, member-driven community of healthcare supply chain thought-leaders has released six new resources to educate the healthcare industry about the continuing evolution of supply chain across the continuum of care.  These new tools - called “Servicing the Continuum of Care,” - are available for download free of charge on the SMI website, and designed to help supply chain professionals understand the needs of the non-acute care market's supply logistics, cost management, and clinical integration.

As the introduction of accountable care models and population health programs now shift supply chain systems to expand outside of the hospital, a team of SMI industry thought-leader members assembled these new tools to help supply chain professionals meet the demands of this changing marketplace.   Recently SMI members agreed that the topic of supply chain across the continuum of care was the biggest challenge facing their supply chain program.

There are six components available for download:  a supply chain program handbook, two on-demand webinars and three healthcare provider profiles.   The handbook explores the characteristics and components of non-acute care programs.  The two on-demand webinars and three provider system profiles provide real-life examples of supply chain systems that currently service physician offices, patient homes, and other community providers. The health system programs featured are Intermountain Health Care, Texas Health Resources, Ochsner Health, Yale New Haven Health, and Advocate Health Care.

SMI member and team leader Marisa Farabaugh from Wake Forest Baptist Health said, “The SMI team recognized the industry’s need for an efficient, best-in-class model for a Supply Chain program that serves the entire continuum of care, including ASCs, remote clinics, physician offices, lab services, and home care.  The team determined that programs continue to evolve, with many incorporating flexible structures to meet the changing demands of these non-acute care customers.”     Nancy Pakieser, SMI member and team leader from TECSYS said, “It is our goal to share the information featured in the “Servicing the Continuum of Care” tool to assist organizations whose supply chain program continue to evolve and shift with the demands of the marketplace.”

To download this and other SMI tools and solutions, visit:  SMI Tools and Solutions.

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ABOUT SMI

The Strategic Marketplace Initiative (SMI) is a non-profit, member-driven organization dedicated to improving the supply chain through direct information exchange and collaboration between senior healthcare supply chain executives and senior IDN supply chain executives.  SMI members include healthcare providers, manufacturers, medical distributors, and other healthcare supply chain businesses.  SMI, created to influence, shape and advance the future of the healthcare marketplace, provides an open forum for innovative idea-exchange and the development of collaborative process improvement initiatives. The members of SMI have created over 30 tools and resources, available free of charge, designed to help industry professionals address real supply chain challenges. For more information about SMI, including a complete list of members, visit:  www.smisupplychain.com.