President's Corner

Happy March!  It’s a month known for fast winds and basketball, but all Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals have really started off the 2020 year at a hectic pace! With global supply chain disruptions appearing on multiple horizons, it becomes more apparent every day that healthcare providers who have invested in VA experts leading robust value analysis teams are much more nimble in responding to each escalating crisis.

While all IDN and Independent Providers have variations in how they implement a value analysis program, everyone in value analysis does an amazing job in coordinating solutions for a supply crisis.  When a PPE product such as an N95 respirator mask may require a change, the VAT rallies to include various employee health, infection prevention, environmental services risk management, biomedical engineering, physician leadership, and regulatory compliance departments (to name a few). Such a simple item, but what a wide swathe of concerns and implications!

Word of future supply shortages can drive employee panic and hoarding. These situations require a cool head and some finesse in communication planning …once again a strong skillset that value analysis professionals excel in providing every day. We all work together to bridge the gap between the silos in our facilities and assure we have a solution to every supply crisis that arrives (seemingly by the hour).

What amazing people AHVAP members are and as a future healthcare recipient, I’m very proud to know and work with all of you who make such a huge difference in the continued provision of safe quality patient care! Keep up the great work!  Laura