What Supply Chain Does
SSM Health is rooted in our mission: “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.” SSM Health Supply Chain supports this mission by engaging end-users to develop product and service solutions necessary to support the delivery of exceptional health care services while being good stewards of our resources.
We are tasked with managing all non-payroll spend across the entire system, with the goal of developing and implementing system solutions that generate sustained value for the organization and eliminate unnecessary variation. We accomplish this goal while supporting the standards of care our clinical partners have developed by:
- Placing the patient and caregiver at the center of everything we do
- Engaging with end-users through established solution groups
- Sourcing and negotiating contracts from attributes defined in these solution groups
- Establishing and reinforcing purchasing standards throughout the system through initiatives such as “No Contract, No Pay” and “No PO, No Pay”
- Partnering with the Vizient GPO (Group Purchasing Organization) to support our contract needs
- Seeking relationships with suppliers who are dedicated to supporting the mission of SSM Health
A Complete Solution to Manage Non-Payroll Spend
The SSM Health Non-Payroll Spend Management model concentrates on resource stewardship through the application of thoughtful and uniform deployment of vendor, supply chain and data management strategies with strong end-user engagement underpinnings, significant analytic proficiencies, rapid implementation capabilities and integrated change management skillsets. These strategies strive to reduce unnecessary variation while providing acceptable products and services that support aligned physicians, clinicians and employees in delivering exceptional health care services for the communities we are blessed to serve.
With talent, detailed processes and change management tenets, focused on intentional connectivity with our aligned physician, clinician and entity leadership, we concentrate on providing excellence within three integral and critical organizational structural components: Vendor Management, Operations Management, and Integrated Change Management and Analytics.
Key functions of the SSM Health Vendor Management Model include: Sourcing and Contract Management; Solution Group Management; and Performance Oversight and Optimization.
Sourcing & Contract Management
Responsible for developing and managing a complete contract portfolio for all non-payroll related spend.
Solution Group Management
Our process begins with engaging our end-users through our Solution Group structure. This structure ensures end-users, such as physicians, clinicians, administrators, and operators, identify the product and service attributes necessary to provide appropriate care and safety for our patients, caregivers, and employees. Based on those attributes, our expert team negotiates the best value for the acceptable supplier products and services.
Performance Oversight & Optimization
Actively manage the critical product and purchase services agreements by focusing on quality, productivity, satisfaction, and financial performance. This work includes contract compliance, product standardization, and contract management activities.
Key functions of Supply Chain Operations Management includes all inbound and outbound transportation management, fleet management, warehousing, materials handling, purchasing, order fulfillment, logistics network design, inventory management, supply/demand planning, and management of third-party logistics services providers.
Material Handling and Inventory Control
We optimize all inventory and processes to reduce waste and conserve caregiver dollars.
Spending Controls and Purchasing
We have implemented processes and controls to manage requisitioning and buying to ensure alignment with our contracted suppliers.
Data Integrity & Master Data Management
We centrally manage all vendor, item, contract and services data to ensure accuracy, consistency, and availability.
Integrated Change Management is regionally and entity focused to engage local leadership and influence change. These regional leaders facilitate cultural and organizational change by proactively bridging communication gaps; building collaborative relationships with executives, physicians, and engaging in both strategic planning and goal management.
Project and Change Management
This function is integrated with Vendor Management, Supply Chain Operations and Integrated Change Management leaders to enable one team optimizing our end-to-end process.
Performance Measurement & Analytics
Information is provided by this team through the aggregation of purchasing, spend and clinical data to support the work of the other functions, ensure value realization, and track compliance.
Process Improvement & Implementation
These process design and implementation capabilities are focused on adoption of user directed contracts and initiatives by coordinating supplier activities and stakeholders, facilitating education and training, and communicating the value of the initiative to all associated parties.
Integrated Distribution & Services Center (IDSC)
The Integrated Distribution & Services Center (IDSC), established in December 2013, is at the cutting edge of health care supply chain strategy. The only facility of its kind across SSM Health, the IDSC currently serves all entities in the St. Louis region.
The IDSC streamlines storage and distribution of medical supplies and equipment, combining supply acquisition, warehousing, distribution and medical equipment repairs, as well as housing and managing nearly 60,000 boxes of medical records.
SSM Health Integrated Distribution & Services Center
3144 Corporate Exchange Ct
Bridgeton, MO 63044