Illuminated Path: Shining a Light on Healthcare's Best Operational Practices

Supply chain resiliency is a term and phrase that has really gained traction over the past several months as we deal with the fallout of the pandemic and seek to apply some lessons and best practices so we can avoid making the same mistakes in the future. In order to make the healthcare supply chain more resilient, we need to identify several components that are vital to its success. In this podcast, Intalere Advisory Specialist leader Tracey Chadwell shares her insights on building a resilient supply chain, and the components to focus on, including building a cross-functional team, implementing the correct strategies and utilizing the tools that can make the supply chain more efficient and effective. 

With more than 20 years’ experience in contracting, procurement and supply chain management, Intalere Chief Operating Officer Todd Larkin is passionate about the value that an integrated supply chain can drive in healthcare, not only for Intalere members, but, more importantly, for their patients. This podcast covers some of the innovative, alternative things being done with all stakeholders to make sure we're meeting providers' supply chain needs now and in the future. Topics include: 

• Intalere’s involvement as part of an initiative with various stakeholders to drive improved visibility and accountability into the healthcare supply chain.
• Collaborative processes Larkin and his team have put in place with suppliers to drive better outcomes.
• Helping providers, particularly in dealing with shortages, finding alternatives and making sure their voices are heard.

Intalere’s Chief Commercial Officer Steve Kiewiet offers a unique and multi-layered perspective, not only as part of a company on the front lines of the healthcare supply chain, but also as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a Board Member of the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) and as just a “student of the game” over 30+ years in healthcare. The podcast discussion covers:

• Some of the hard lessons that the healthcare supply chain has had to learn as a result of the pandemic.
• Key takeaways/top changes the healthcare supply chain needs to make going forward.
• Tips for readiness and in planning for the future, near and long term.

Intalere Chief Executive Officer Julius Heil has worked in virtually every area of the supply chain over 30+ years - in healthcare and outside – locally, nationally and globally in areas including strategy, logistics, distribution and procurement. In this episode, we discuss:

• His feelings about the new visibility of the supply chain and how it has emphasized its strategic importance, in healthcare and in general.
• Some of the things the group purchasing industry and Intalere specifically are doing to help mitigate supply shortages, including some unprecedented cooperation.
• How the challenges of the pandemic illustrate the importance of the GPO industry and the benefits it can provide.
• Thoughts on what the next several months will look like and how providers can continue to be vigilant and prepared.

In looking to cut expenses, improve cash flow and grow margins, one area of relatively “low-hanging fruit” that can be implemented relatively swiftly, and begin to literally pay dividends almost immediately is payments processing. Intalere Senior Vice President of Business Development Shon Wettstein shares how these solutions can lower your overall costs for merchant services and payment processing – while accelerating and simplifying payments so you can focus on patients.

There is a growing concern in the healthcare industry about increased Accounts Receivable (A/R) due to administrative staffing shortages and changes in work environment such as working remotely due to the pandemic. Compounding this, there will surely be a reduction of new revenues as a result of delays in surgical procedures, reduction in elective surgeries and other services, all while new expenses mount. Intalere Solutions Executive Donna Showers shares how collections from old A/R can help bridge the revenue gap and other strategies organizations can implement to mitigate these concerns and keep their cash flow and margins secure. 

In looking for ways to relatively quickly improve cash flow and margins post COVID-19, one area that may be overlooked, or mistakenly viewed as difficult to quickly address, is insurance coverage. Intalere’s Chris Agnello, Vice President of Insurance Resources, discusses the process of reviewing and updating coverage, especially in the life and disability areas, and how quickly and seamlessly you can derive savings.

As medical and clinical challenges subside over the coming weeks, healthcare organizations will be facing a new normal in terms of financial and operational tasks. This discussion focuses on areas where automation can be used to alleviate challenges across the revenue cycle space related to COVID-19. Chris Schuette, Intalere’s Products Owner of Automation and Business Systems shares how automation alternatives can help deliver direct profitability back into your facility while streamlining workflows and easing the burden on employees.

In this episode of Illuminated Path, host Evan Danis welcomes guest Kenneth Cyr, Director of Supply Chain Consulting at Intalere. As healthcare reimbursement drives the development of a more patient-centric continuum of care, it demands the healthcare supply chain evolve from transaction-based processes, to a greater operational alignment with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives. Cyr discusses how value analysis and product standardization require a new level of communication. He talks about the most common improvement areas he typically recommends to an organization that wants to enhance its supply chain and interconnect clinical processes, as well as tips for how a supply chain department can get started on the path to multidisciplinary collaboration.

In this episode of Illuminated Path, host Evan Danis welcomes guests John Carmelite, Senior Director of Applications IT/Business Systems at Intalere, along with Jason Warrelmann, Senior Healthcare Leader for UiPath. Over the past several years, intelligent automation, specifically RPA (robotic process automation), has emerged as one of the leading technologies in the market for the automation of business processes within organizations of all industries and sizes. In this episode, Carmelite and Warrelmann dispel the myths surrounding RPA and discuss how healthcare is starting to embrace automation. Whether it's task automation for contract management or revenue cycle management, RPA is a great, affordable solution that healthcare providers can implement quickly and can return rapid payback.