The Journal of Healthcare Contracting Produces Podcast on December 14, 2016 - A Conversation  with Jamie C. Kowalski

The primary topic discussed is the Consolidated Service Center Supply Chain Model that over 60 IDNs have implemented; almost 40 in the last 4 years.

Those interested in listening to the Podcast can access it at,  http://www.jhconline.com/podcast  

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2016  SURVEY OF PROVIDER SUPPLY CHAIN  EXECUTIVES;

LEADERSHIP & SUCCESSION

Based on very positive feedback from both participants in the 2015 Survey, and from audiences that have been presented the findings, Jamie C. Kowalski Consulting, LLC will produce second edition of the Survey in 2016. Like the 2015 Survey, the 2016 version will focus on the topic of Leadership Development and Succession. Invitations will be distributed exclusively to Supply Chain Executives from about 200 IDNs, by invitation only. 

The 2016 Survey was produced in collaboration with the Bellwether League, Inc. (BLI), the Hall of Fame for Healthcare Supply Chain leaders. Sponsors for the Survey included:

Presenting Sponsor: 

• Intalere, a leading national healthcare Supply Chain solutions company that helps members elevate their operational health by delivering optimal cost, quality and clinical outcomes.

Sponsor:

• Owens & Minor, Inc., the largest medical supply distributor in the healthcare industry, serving all types of healthcare providers, with products and solutions for their supply chain.

This followup Survey on Leadership and Succession Planning is driven by the growing concern about the healthcare provider supply chain profession and industry. According to the 2015 Survey, over one-half of the supply chain leader responders intend to retire within the next two to four years! In addition, only 40% have a succession plan and/or an idendified candidate to coach to take over, once the current leader retires.

Vacancies in this critical leader position will likely be devastating to the providers that are not well prepared for this eventuality. What exacerbates the situation is, these same Supply Chain leaders virtually universally, express strong concern for the lack of an adequate pool of qualified candidates to fill the vacancies and/or a channel from which candidates can be accessed or become qualified. 

In order to help the industry shed light on the issue and identify some solutions to the challenge, the Survey asked (confidentially) such questions as: Should it be entirely your decision, do you expect to be retiring from the profession in the next 1, 2, 3, 5 years (select one)? Do you currently have an identified heir apparent to replace you when you retire? Is your heir apparent currently fully qualified to take on your responsibility and authority? If not, what additional qualifications must she/he develop before taking over (skill sets, experience, and knowledge, all of these)? From what source(s) will the heir apparent obtain what they need to fill their gaps? 

The 2016 Survey have been presented at various venues in the second half of 2016 . Participants who fully completed the Survey received a copy of the results.  

Since Jamie Kowalski began the supply chain management surveys in the 1980s, the purpose of the surveys has remained the same; understand the perceptions, concerns and most important issues of hospital senior executives regarding the supply chain, its performance, as well as their expectations of contributions supply chain must make toward achieving hospital and IDN performance and success. Finally, as was the case of the 2015 Survey and will be the focus of the 2016 Survey, timely issues and 'trends' are featured to gain insight into their causes and identify possible solutions. The findings are shared with industry supply chain professionals through a variety of channels.

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                        2016 CONSOLIDATED SERVICE CENTER MODEL SURVEY 

Jamie C. Kowalski Consulting, LLC and Dublin Ireland based Performance Supply Chain  produced the 2016 edition of the CSC Survey of  US healthcare provider organizations. 

Consolidated Service Centers are not a fad; in 2012 there were about 25 CSC's in the US and 17 in Canada. In 2014, there were a reported 23 SSOs in Canada and over 40 CSCs in the US. The US number of CSC's has grown to over 60 in 2016. More are known to be in the developemnt stage.

The first edition of this groundbreaking Survey of healthcare providers that use a Consolidated Service Center (CSC) Model for their Supply Chain and other support services, was completed in 2012. This model is also called a Shared Services Organization (SSO) by providers in Canada. 

With another two years of operating experience gained by CSCs, the next edition of the Survey was completed in 2014. The findings  were more robust than those of the first survey. Those provider organizations that completed the survey received a report of the findings, with the data and executive level analysis that can help Supply Chain executives who operate a CSC model, to compare their data and performance to all other respondents. Providers considering the model can learn critical success factors, as well. 

Tecsys, an international leading warehouse management and supply chain information technology company is sponsoring the survey.