Value Analysis Tools
Robert W. Yokl
7. Don’t Worry About Software Replacing What You Do, There is Always More in VA – A Senior Level VA Professional from a large IDN approached me after a recent regional educational program about integrating several advanced modalities into the VA programs at their hospitals. We talked about all the modalities that I presented but the ongoing theme was, “oh that’s my job to do that, and that is my job to do this, etc.” I got the impression that this person came to the presentation to chart out the areas where they could protect their turf instead of trying to implement new forward-thinking strategies. 8. Enlist a Subject Matter Expert (e.g., “Techie Guru”) to Assist in the Selection – Many value analysis and supply chain professionals do not have a technical background in order to efficiently and adequately assess software vendors. What sort of database does this system run on? What is the programming platform you are using? Do you program this from scratch or use a purchased tool? How is our data protected? Do all the users have to log onto the system to put in a new product request? Can your system be customized and if so in what way? Again, enlist a colleague who can help you navigate these “technical” waters. 9. Envision the Pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow – Step back and visualize the perfect tool(s) that you have chosen - what will they be doing for you? How much time will they be saving you? Will the system fast-track savings opportunities for supply utilization? Visualize using these tools every day to automate and enhance value analysis and supply chain evaluations. 10. What are your Stretch Goals & Objectives for the Tools? – It is always good to have stretch goals for any initiative, such as a module or reports that can find price savings for you compared to the marketplace. Once your minimum requirements in a software tool have been met, then broaden your requirements to all aspects of value analysis and supply utilization to find the perfect software tools for you. These are just a few key areas that you should be thinking about as your leaders want you to improve your programs to enhance your analysis and improve the quality and bottom-line savings at your hospitals and health systems. To do this, you must start to think about the areas where you can automate your VA program to easily identify new and better areas for savings and quality improvement. Would you rather walk to your destination or would you rather drive or even fly to that destination? Automation is the path to take to improve value analysis and easily find supply chain savings. Remember, you must have the right tools to launch you to a new level. Why continue to be limited by the world of manual spreadsheets and word documents? Others have found that pot of gold at the end of rainbow – why not you?
FREE VALUE ANALYSIS SOFTWARE?
Finally a System for Hospitals with Little or No Budget to Have a Total VA System in Place As a VA solutions leader, it is frustrating to see high quality VA professionals around the country toiling with multitudes of spreadsheets and word documents. Their talents, time and resources should be focused on working with the clinicians and key stakeholders at their organizations. This is the reason why I decided to start this totally free option for those out there who want to take the next step for their value analysis programs but have little or no budget to make this happen. Robert W. Yokl, Sr. VP, Operations—SVAH Solutions
Get Your FREE Value Analysis Software Today — www.AxiaValueAnalysis.com Volume 6/Issue 2 Healthcare Value Analysis & Utilization Management Magazine 23
