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lab continuum,” Messer says.“ After learning how we could address some of their challenges and further strengthen our existing relationship, they chose to move forward with a lab distribution partnership.” |
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SKU standardization and cost savings At the start, some people were apprehensive about the change.“ But at that point, we were able to offer savings and SKU reduction,” Messer says.“ I was working alongside a consultant at that point. Their focus was finding savings and standardization.” Messer worked with the consultant and Kettering Health’ s supply chain contact to go through the data set and helped create and tell the story to simplify the whole process.
Messer looked at their sales history.“ Their data
About Kettering Health
Kettering, Ohio-based Kettering Health is a faith-based, not-forprofit health system with 14 medical centers, more than 120 outpatient facilities, 1,800 + physicians and 15,000 + employees. Serving western Ohio, the health system features services such as maternity care, cancer centers, a heart hospital, and brain and spine surgery.
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helped us create a plan, including how we could help both lab and supply chain meet their SKU reduction and savings goals,” she explains.“ It enhanced collaboration between our local teams, supply chain and clinical leaders in the laboratory, strengthening relationships and improving overall experience for all involved.”
By analyzing their sales history and purchase orders, Medline helped Kettering Health streamline their inventory, reducing the number of suppliers and optimizing their supply chain.
Respiratory kit custom inventory and lot sequester Meanwhile, Kettering Health’ s strategic sourcing manager was promoted, and Kathy Dane took her place. What were her priorities?
“ Everything,” Dane says.“ The lab is where I’ ve really been able to establish a relationship with Medline. Ari has been a great resource to fill in knowledge gaps for lab products and services. And we talk a lot. If there’ s something I don’ t
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“ The lab is where I’ ve really been able to establish a relationship with Medline.”
— Kathy Dane, Kettering Health strategic sourcing manager
know and even she is unsure of, we find it out together. I love lab, especially in a hospital environment. Everyone experiences healthcare, and you just want to do your best for everyone. I’ ve enjoyed all the learning.”
One of the standout projects in the Medline-Kettering Health strategic partnership has been the custom inventory and lot sequester for respiratory kits. Dane explains the complexity and importance of this initiative.“ The 2023-24 respiratory season was even higher than what I anticipated. We kept ordering substantial amounts of
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product. Being supply chain, we wanted more product ordered, but the lab was nervous because of the usage and because of the out dates of the product.”
Medline’ s dedicated inventory program for respiratory kits has been a game-changer for Kettering Health. Messer explains,“ Kettering Health was one of the first customers where we started dedicated inventory. They’ ve done that for the last three respiratory seasons.”
She continues,“ It’ s a dedicated inventory that has a unique item number for that customer that pulls from their local branch, so they don’ t have to carry a massive amount of inventory. There’ s a weekly communication that displays inventory levels. We monitor it and give the customer a heads up:‘ You’ re seeing a spike, you may want to think about reordering.’ We do that throughout the season.”
This program ensures that Kettering Health has a reliable sup-
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