Does your medical facility have systems in place to minimize ordering errors?
Medical supplies are critical, but they’re often prone to purchase errors. Lack of automation creates plenty of problems for medical supply purchasers.
Consequently, healthcare workers are under increased pressure to save the hospital money and time. To that end, let’s work through the medical supply purchasing mistakes you shouldn’t make.
Here are some guides to help you spot medical supply purchasing errors and how to avoid them.
1. Trusting the First Source
When looking for medical supplies, comparing prices and products from multiple sources is essential before making a purchase. Don’t be afraid to ask for quotes from numerous suppliers.
It’s also important to read reviews and compare products before purchasing. You can avoid costly mistakes by taking the time to do your research and reading online reviews.
2. Not Considering the Future
One common error made when purchasing medical supplies is not considering the future. This can lead to many problems, such as not having enough supplies on hand when they are needed or having to replace supplies more frequently than necessary.
To avoid this, it is essential to consider the immediate and anticipated future needs. This includes considering things such as population growth, changes in the medical field, and new technologies that may be developed.
By taking the time to plan, you can avoid making costly mistakes that could jeopardize patient care.
3. Sacrificing Quality for Quantity
One of the most common medical supply purchasing errors is sacrificing quality for quantity. This can often be seen when clinicians choose the cheapest option instead of the best one for their patients.
This can lead to sub-optimal patient care and increased costs down the line. To avoid this, educating clinicians on the importance of choosing quality over quantity is vital.
They should be aware of the potential consequences of their choices and be allowed to make informed decisions.
4. Ordering the Wrong Supply
Another common medical supply purchasing error is ordering the wrong item from the medical supply provider. This can happen when you don’t know exactly what you need or misread the order.
For example, instead of 2.5ml syringes, we got 2.6ml which are two different items. To avoid this error, be sure to double-check your order before you submit it.
Ask a colleague or consult the manufacturer’s website if you’re unsure about what you need.
5. Not Staying Up-to-Date on Industry Changes
Many potential medical supply purchasing errors can occur if you are not staying up-to-date on industry changes. For example, you may purchase outdated or discontinued products or miss out on new products that could improve patient care.
Additionally, you may end up paying more for products than you need or inadvertently purchase products not covered by insurance. To avoid these errors, it is essential to stay informed about changes in the medical supply industry.
Avoid the Pitfalls of Medical Supply Purchasing Errors
If you are responsible for purchasing medical supplies at your organization, it is crucial to be aware of the common medical supply purchasing errors and how to avoid them.
Some of the most common mistakes include failing to compare prices, incorrect product selection, not considering future needs and not keeping up with regulations
When in doubt, seek the advice of a medical supply expert to ensure that you are getting the best products for your facility and patients.
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