Executive IDN Insights are emailed to you bi-weekly to provide executive supply chain leadership insights from two of the most trusted healthcare supply chain leaders. For decades, they have led large supply chain organizations and now offer you their strategic thoughts on pressing issues you should be considering. Learn more about Brent and Mike.
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In 2005 I moved into the Healthcare Supply Chain industry working for Intermountain Healthcare for 11 years before retirement. I had come from for-profit industries that were focused on profit and improving returns to give greater dividends to stockholders.
It didn’t take long for me to realize and “feel” a difference in healthcare. The major purpose of our work was for the patient. It felt good and everyone was focused on it – executives, clinicians, suppliers, GPOs, and supply chain employees.
18 years later I believe this is still a great industry to work in. At the 2023 Fall IDN Summit and Reverse Expo in Phoenix last month I decided to take a survey, asking many people, “Why do you like to work in the Healthcare Supply Chain?” I used an app on my phone to record the responses.
Here are some of the responses:
From GPO/Suppliers:
- Can make a difference in patient outcomes and for the end-user
- It ultimately helps patients
- Get to help people
- Very rewarding, especially when you have a good product
- It’s more mission-driven and more stable
- Make a difference in people's lives
- Lots of opportunities
- I like to be involved in making people better
- I enjoy empowering companies with better technology
- Contribute to society
- I love drinking beer and I don’t want to sell it. So, I work in the healthcare supply chain to help people live better lives.
- As a supplier I like trying to help hospitals reduce costs and provide better value for their patients
- It’s about the patients.
Responses From IDN/Providers:
- I believe at the end of the day WE will be the ones that can make a difference to the patients
- The opportunity to bring value to my community at large and to our clinicians
- Supply chain is fantastic. It’s the intersection of where business happens in the organization to help the patients.
- It’s the only supply chain career where you can feel that you are making a difference
- We can actually make a difference in someone’s life
- I had a bad healthcare experience myself and want to make it better
- I always wanted to be a doctor and that’s how I could make a difference in someone’s life. Once I entered the supply chain I realized I could equally make a difference in the outcome of someone’s health journey. I then realized I was at the right address.
- It means something
- I like working in healthcare in general and supply chain is what needs the most attention in our organization so I volunteered to work there.
- I like it because of the diversity. Being able to be involved with all aspects of healthcare from clinicians one day and with operations another day.
The healthcare supply chain industry is a GREAT place to work for all the reasons mentioned above. It’s also very large and growing. I’m so glad I worked in healthcare. I hope you are too.
Previous Insights
2023
2021
- Elements of a Strategic Plan
- Words of Wisdom: Networking and the Healthcare Supply Chain
- Notes from the 2021 IDN Summit Senior Executive Forum
- Is Selling in Post-Covid Times Harder?
- Trends in Healthcare Reimbursement
- Consolidation and Centralization
- Medal of Honor Recipient Gives Us Thanks
- Growth of Non-Acute: Supply Chain Challenges
- Outcomes-Based Contracting
- The Value of Value Analysis in Healthcare
- Cardiovascular and Orthopedic Trends
- Supply Chain as a Revenue Generator
- Unforeseen Financial Impacts
2019
- It's About Having Integrity!
- Be Careful What You Wish For
- How to Win Friends and Influence People
- What's Your Management Style
- Old School
- The Confusing World of Benchmarking
- Do You Have the Courage to Do the Right Thing?
- Managing Expenses
- Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch
- The Power of Being Happy
- Happy New Year Resolutions?
2018
- Buffaloes and Squirrels
- Getting Educated by a College Student
- The Importance of Work-Life Balance
- Is Someone Ready to Step In
- Payor-Provider Partnerships Impact on Supply Chain
- Addressing Overuse and Waste
- Changing the Roadmap
- Is Your Non-Spend Labor Under Control?
- Creating Supply Chain Credibility
- Working with Physicians
- It's About Talent
- Effective Communication
- Best Practices in Supply Chain Management
- Planning is Not a Luxury, It is Essential
- Supply Chain Leaders Need to be "Leaders of Change"