By Denise Bisogno, Business Development Manager
While talking with a VP of Supply Chain Operations of a leading healthcare organization today, I simply asked how their 2025 cost savings strategy was going regarding their Purchased Services space. The answer caught me off guard.
The response was, “We have so many competing priorities and chaotic pivots arising in our day to day, and that demand we must navigate now. Every day a new challenge arises, and we shift again. We have been placing strategy and wish lists on the back burner”
He was right… these are unprecedented times for Supply Chain leaders, especially in healthcare. It led me to think how SpendMend can better serve and come alongside these leaders to help them stay afloat during their rising waves of challenge. Purchased Services holds a strong, and valuable potential for achieving savings and optimizing value right away.
So, I thought I’d write out a quick article to share 5 things that every Supply Chain leader in healthcare can achieve to stay ahead in 2025.
5 Essentials Every Healthcare Supply Chain Leader Needs for Purchased Services Mastery
Implementing these principles in Q1 2025 will set the foundation for a winning value strategy.
- Partner with True Helpers, Not Tools
Avoid relying solely on software or “one-off” solutions. Instead, seek healthcare-focused subject matter experts who work alongside you to expand your bandwidth without draining your time or space. These experts bring hands-on support that enhances your team’s efforts.
- Embrace Intelligent Design for Sustainable Change
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Instead, introduce new concepts that perform the heavy lifting and accomplish your goals. Ask: Is this just another tool, or a comprehensive, end-to-end approach that streamlines operations, ensures long-term sustainability, and enhances control?
- Demand Timely Results
Time is money, and value only matters if it arrives on time. Many promise results, but few deliver quickly enough to make an immediate impact. In today’s fast-paced environment you need instant, actionable outcomes. Choose partners who can track, monitor, and adjust performance in real time. How quickly can they deliver results when you need them most?
- Automate to Unlock Leadership Value
Automation allows leaders to redirect teams toward critical initiatives and crisis management. Automating your Purchased Services ensures negotiated savings are captured, and post-contract monitoring prevents billing errors before invoices are paid. Thousands of line-item details that once overwhelmed your manual processes are now managed in minutes, uncovering and stopping overspending caused by historical errors and inefficiencies.
- Ensure Every Player Thrives—Big or Small
Regardless of hospital size, all healthcare organizations need efficient models for Purchased Services. Whether it’s a community hospital or a multi-facility health system, a tailored approach is essential. Purchased Services are the lifeblood of healthcare, and SpendMend’s proven, comprehensive solution helps organizations of all sizes achieve sustainable success. Leading supply chain executives nationwide trust this model to deliver efficiency, sustainability, and measurable results.
