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PRODUCTS & SERVICES


when a health system evaluates and chooses a compliance and credentialing software package.” Justin Poulin, RN, CMRP, Vice President of Sales, Green Security, contends that Supply Chain’s connections and infl uence as this market segment emerged justifi es their deep involvement. “Supply Chain has ex-


tensive experience with compliance credentialing


Justin Poulin


software,” Poulin noted. “This knowledge is extremely valuable in the sourcing process and is a resource to the depart- ments that have not utilized a similar service. Many healthcare facilities have disparate systems and varied processes for managing non-employees. Those sys- tems and processes are often deployed in silos relative to the departments that they support, such as Guest or Information Services, Security, Facilities, Engineering, Operating Room, Human Resources and Supply Chain. In some cases, no process has been established for a certain category of non-employees, such as vendors, con- tractors and visitors. The gaps created by those silos present a challenge to enforc- ing compliance. Supply Chain is engaged across the enterprise and has established critical relationships within the organiza- tion that are instrumental in closing gaps and establishing a standardized process for managing non-employee access.” Julie Walker, General Manager and Vice President of Vendor and General Creden- tialing, symplr, advocates for Supply Chain’s infl uence and leadership in the area of compliance credentialing. “Supply chain has tradi- tionally taken the lead role in sourcing and selecting


Julie Walker


compliance credentialing software, given health care industry representatives have been the primary focus for non-employee credentialing,” Walker said. “As the defi ni- tion of healthcare personnel has expanded to include contractors, service providers, researchers, students, volunteers, etc., and pressures to minimize foreseeable risks to patient and staff safety increased, we’re seeing more stakeholders like Compliance, Facility and Risk Management, Infection Control, and IT/Data Security involved in the credentialing system selection and decision-making process.


“Supply Chain should continue to play a lead role in sourcing, evaluating, and selecting compliance credentialing soft-


ware,” she continued. “Supply Chain is responsible for managing the largest and highest risk-credentialed population and have the most extensive knowledge and proven experience in effectively selecting, implementing, and managing credential- ing systems. They should be encouraged to collaborate with other key stakeholders, as needed, throughout the process.”


Bridging with IT


Yet as the Information Technology de- partment oversees wired and wireless hardware and software connectivity and integration what specifi cally can Supply Chain contribute to the implementation process after sourcing for fi xed and mobile capabilities and features? Louma acknowledges that IT oversees components of a compliance and creden- tialing program, including system and net- work access, infrastructure and technical security. But that’s only part of the process. “A truly complete program extends far beyond that and is woven into everyday business processes — ordering, contract- ing, physical access, logistics and payment — with suppliers,” he insisted. “Supply Chain specializes in not only negotiation and contracting, but also in optimizing business processes. With this in mind Sup- ply Chain is a valuable resource to leverage in the selection process and is necessary to ensure that compliance is part of a health system’s operations. When compliance is not a separate process, but rather part of the standard process, health systems get higher adherence and minimize exposure to risk.”


IT maintains hardware and software to reduce or eliminate downtime, according to Poulin.


“Typically, IT departments prefer sys- tems that are secure and require limited human resources to maintain,” he said. “However, IT is not responsible for the vision. Sup- ply Chain leaders are skilled commu- nicators who can share their vision and gain buy-in throughout the or- ganization when deploying a new technology. They also have the proj- ect management skills to keep the


implementation on target and ensure the vendor is held accountable for meeting the expectations set during the sourcing process.”


If anything, Supply Chain should serve as a bridge with IT on the compliance credentialing front, according to Walker. “Supply Chain serves in an important role relative to sourcing and implement- ing credentialing solutions,” she indicated. “Specifi cally, their key responsibility is to effectively communicate system require- ments with IT and collaborate to determine specifi cations necessary to ensure initial and ongoing system success. Also, most credentialing solutions are delivered us- ing a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, versus on-premise software. Thus, the primary role of IT has been to evaluate credentialing system’s data security and related requirements. This step will en- sure compliance with PHI, HIPAA, PII, and other industry requirements and standards.”


Walker urged healthcare organizations to keep Supply Chain plugged into the compliance credentialing process, no mat- ter how diverse and extensive it grows. “Supply Chain has extensive experience and a rich perspective in determining necessary credentialing solution needs, including key features and benefi ts, and as such, should maintain the lead role in the sourcing and implementation process,” she said. HPN


Editor’s Note: For an historical retrospective on the compliance credentialing industry segment, search hpnonline.com using the terms “Vendor Credentialing” or “Supplier Credentialing.” Furthermore, visit the Consortium for Uni- versal Healthcare Credentialing for additional information at https://www.universalhealth- carecredentialing.org/.


hpnonline.com • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • October 2017


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