Healthcare Value Analysis and Utilization Management Magazine

Meeting the Challenges of Reform Through a Stronger Value Analysis-Supply Chain Partnership

March 24, 2014 Robert Yokl Comments Off

By Michael B. Neely, Senior Vice President, Optimé Supply Chain Healthcare reform has placed providers of care under intense pressure to reduce costs and improve operations. Value Analysis teams and Supply Chain are among the […]

Paradigm Shift – Integrating Utilization Into Our Value Analysis Programs

March 24, 2014 Robert Yokl Comments Off

I know what you are thinking, “Paradigm shift – really?” The 90’s are calling, Bob, and we want our progressive change phrase back. But all kidding aside, there is a major change happening with our […]

None of Us Are As Smart As All of Us

March 24, 2014 Robert Yokl Comments Off

James Russell, RN-BC, Value Analysis Facilitator VCU Health System, Richmond, VA One of the best things about being a Value Analysis Facilitator is the ability to help shine a light on other efficiency-minded folks in […]

Supply Chain Expense Management: It’s Not About Price Any Longer

December 6, 2013 Robert Yokl Comments Off

More and more supply chain and value analysis professionals are getting it: It’s not about price any longer. After more than 50 years of GPOs, systems, and IDNs squeezing prices until they squeak, there is very little […]

Utilization Is Not a New Concept but How We View and Attack It Is!

December 4, 2013 Robert Yokl Comments Off

The other day I was browsing through my copy of the Charles Housley (Bellwether League Honoree 2008) edited book Product Standardization and Evaluation which was published back in 1985. This was a compilation of best […]

Supply Utilization Myths, Misunderstandings, and Mistakes

December 4, 2013 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Why utilization savings are still illusive for most healthcare organizations Although the term utilization management seems to be understood by some supply chain managers and value analysis practitioners, in reality, there are still too many […]

Utilization = Practice Change

December 4, 2013 Robert Yokl Comments Off

James Russell, RN-BC, Value Analysis Facilitator VCU Health System, Richmond, VA What do we mean when we talk about Value Analysis projects that focus on utilization? We’re talking about practice change. To a clinician, asking them […]

#1 Ingredient to Improve Your Value Analysis Teams

December 4, 2013 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Michael E. Porter and Thomas H. Lee, in a recent Harvard Review article, put it this way, “Teams improve and excel by tracking progress over time and comparing their performance to that of peers inside […]

How Often Should Your Value Analysis Teams Meet?

December 4, 2013 Robert Yokl Comments Off

The healthcare industry norm for the frequency of value analysis team meetings seems to be once a month. However, this meeting schedule can cause communication gaps, delays in making important decisions, and eventually loss of […]

Value Analysis Leadership Interview

December 3, 2013 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Barbara Strain, Director, Supply Chain Analytics University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA Barbara Strain is a graduate of California State University and one of the founding members, past president and Board Member of the […]

Is Poor Communication Slowing Your VA Process?

December 3, 2013 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Tips and tools to enhance your VA communication and productivity – Part 2 By Wanda-Dupree Lane, RN, BSHA, MaED, Clinical VA Coordinator, The Regional Medical Center, Memphis, TN The most valuable tool for improving communication […]

Are You Experiencing “Groundhog Day” With Your Hospital’s Value Analysis Committee and Teams?

December 3, 2013 Robert Yokl Comments Off

I’m sure you remember the movie with Bill Murray called “Groundhog Day”, where Murray is a TV weatherman who is trapped in a time loop of repeating the same day again and again on Groundhog […]

Before, During, and After the Value Analysis Study

December 3, 2013 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Why it is important that utilization management works in concert with a strong VA program When we engage with a value analysis committee or team, we often observe that the VA teams tend to get […]