PROcure Shared Services Drives and Documents Savings through GHX Healthcare Supply Chain Solutions
Using GHX Exchange connectivity and tools, PROcure transforms its supply chain in two months and achieves a complete return on its GHX investment within six months
TORONTO and CHATHAM, Ontario, Sept. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - PROcure Healthcare Shared Services Organization (PROcure) has automated its five member hospitals' procurement processes through the GHX electronic trading exchange and is now enabled to conduct business with greater visibility and accuracy by providing access to a selection of GHX provider solutions. In an environment of greater healthcare accountability, GHX is also providing PROcure with tools to document and report its members' savings. PROcure is the seventh SSO in Ontario to join the GHX Exchange.
Seeking a way to improve the efficiency and accuracy of its supply chain processes, while continuing to use their existing technology infrastructure and staff resources, PROcure engaged GHX in October 2011. By mid-December 2011, just two and half months later, PROcure was enabled to transact electronically with 200 suppliers through the GHX Exchange and managing over 200 supplier contracts for improved order accuracy and greater contract compliance.
"As an organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness of the supply chain, we needed to find a way to streamline our members' supply chain processes in an efficient and economical manner," said Cynthia Chesler, general manager of PROcure. "GHX provided just that and within a short timeframe enabled us to quickly achieve savings. We anticipate even more savings moving forward as we increase our trading partner connections and volume of electronic invoices."
PROcure is connected directly to suppliers on the GHX Exchange and is using GHX MetaTrade to transact electronically with suppliers not yet integrated with GHX. PROcure estimates it will eliminate 65 percent of its paper invoices in the coming months once it transitions to 810 electronic invoices with suppliers. PROcure uses the GHX My Exchange web portal to view and manage orders placed with both GHX-connected and non-connected suppliers to identify and resolve discrepancies in real-time, reducing manual rework and costly invoice exceptions.
To improve contract compliance and uncover new savings opportunities, PROcure is using GHX CCXpert, a contract management tool that helps automate contracting processes and provides access to near real-time data from their group purchasing organization (GPO) and suppliers. When PROcure places an order through the GHX Exchange, CCXpert performs a three-way price match between the purchase order, acknowledgement and contract price to help ensure the right product is purchased at the right price.
"GHX provides us with the tools to become more efficient and work smarter. As a non-profit SSO, we are duty bound to provide accountable and transparent supply chain solutions in a responsible, efficient and effective manner and our use of GHX solutions supports this mission," said Chesler.
"PROcure is an excellent example of how an SSO can quickly and efficiently transform its supply chain for the benefit of its member organizations and the patients they serve," said Nils Clausen, general manager, GHX Canada. "We at GHX are proud to partner with them in this effort and look forward to continued success in the months ahead."
About GHX
Global Healthcare Exchange, LLC (GHX), a healthcare technology and services company, helps reduce the cost of doing business in healthcare by enabling better supply chain management. GHX makes it easier for hospitals, other healthcare providers and the suppliers that do business with them to drive cost and inefficiency out of their processes. Working with GHX, the healthcare organizations that make up the GHX Global Network are on track to save $5 billion by 2014—savings that can be invested in such things as hiring more nurses, providing care to uninsured children or developing new medical products. GHX is owned by organizations on both the buy and sell side of the healthcare supply chain, including some of the largest companies in the world. Find GHX on the Web, on Twitter @GHX_LLC and on Facebook @GHX.
About PROcure Supply Chain Solutions
PROcure is a fully integrated supply chain management shared service organization, providing services to the Erie-St. Clair Local Health Integration Network. Operating out of Chatham, Ontario, complete with a cross-dock facility, PROcure has successfully freed up space and time now used for clinical and other support services by adopting the OntarioBuys Integrated Supply Chain Management (iSCM) framework.
PROcure was created in 2008 with the goal of improving patient care, providing better service to front-line professionals, increasing value from suppliers and lowering hospital costs. With a focus on "Teamwork", PROcure maintains solid partnerships with our member hospitals and supporters, as well as a harmonized flow of consolidated functions within the PROcure environment.
Hospitals within the ESC LHIN have a history of successful collaboration and leadership in advancing "best practices" in health care delivery for the province. The Erie-St. Clair Region is committed to integrating health care supply chain functions through the adoption of leading practices that supports the diversity of its participating organizations.
SOURCE: GHX
Martine Aubin, GHX, +1-647-426-2304, [email protected]; or Cynthia Chesler, PROcure, [email protected]
http://www.ghx.com
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