Leigh Steinke, Vizient Implementation Manager, works with IHN Sourcing Group to align supply chain and clinicians in Advanced Wound Care with the help of the aptitude catalog

When taking a preference item like Advanced Wound Care to market, there are typically suppliers visiting facilities to deliver samples and help conduct trials, but with most of the country working from home and providers focused on combatting COVID-19, that hasn’t been possible.  But that hasn’t stopped IHN Sourcing Group from looking for ways to deliver value and reduce variation for its members.  By leveraging the aptitude catalog to facilitate clinical feedback on cross references, they have been able to move their process forward.

 A streamlined, self-sufficient approach for IHN and their clinicians

“Looking at crossable opportunities and product coverage in the catalog means we aren’t waiting on suppliers to provide their information and helped us only bid to suppliers we knew could meet our needs,” said Steinke.

She was able to pull data from the catalog into an Excel file that she shared with clinicians and then fed their feedback into the system through an upload so that the sourcing team can then apply that data to their purchasing decisions.

“Clinicians are familiar with spreadsheets and it was easier for them to provide me with their feedback.  Once we uploaded their information back into the aptitude catalog we were able to select vendors for RFP and to set compliance levels before finalizing contracts because we have both clinical and spend data on what products each facility uses,” Steinke continued.

The clinicians are excited to be a part of blazing a new trail.  With each initiative and category that is successfully uploaded, it helps build the database that can serve members and other providers by providing valuable clinical feedback.  IHN can aggregate the data from individual facilities to inform the process for the entire group.

“With our clinical data in the aptitude platform, we can continue through the RFP process with confidence.  From the standardized terms and conditions to the compliance tracking and management, running the event through aptitude will help accelerate and inform our contract in Advanced Wound Care, and help us communicate the value being achieved to clinicians to maintain alignment across stakeholders.”