Healthcare Archives - Healthcare Value Analysis and Utilization Management Magazine

UDI in Theory vs. UDI in Practice: Why Recalls Still Rely on Manual Workflows

February 18, 2026 Robert Yokl Comments Off

The Unique Device Identification (UDI) system was created with a clear and necessary goal: to improve patient safety by enabling accurate identification and traceability of medical devices throughout their lifecycle. In theory, UDI should allow […]

From Decision to Proof: Why Value Analysis Only Succeeds When the System Holds

February 18, 2026 Robert Yokl Comments Off

“Clinicians, finance leaders, and executives don’t judge value analysis by how thoughtful the discussion was. They judge it by results.” In healthcare value analysis, we spend a lot of time talking about improvement. Better decisions. […]

Understanding Your Customer Dynamics in Value Analysis

February 18, 2026 Robert Yokl Comments Off

One of our mantras that we have lived by in my company and with our hospital and health system clients is, “Value analysis begins and ends with the customer.” We don’t have specifications to analyze […]

Health System Leaders That Want VA to Save Big: Train Your VA Teams in Advanced Levels of Cost Optimization Beyond Price

February 18, 2026 Robert Yokl Comments Off

“Many healthcare organizations throughout the country have very active Value Analysis Programs but they have provided little or no training in advanced cost optimization methods, best practices, and strategies.” Everyone knows how to save money, […]

Artificial Intelligence and Value Analysis: From Concept to Competence

February 18, 2026 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Healthcare value analysis is not about technology for its own sake. It supports informed decisions that connect clinical outcomes, financial responsibility, and operational feasibility. Every recommendation has consequences – not just for cost, but also […]

Building a Resilient Supply Chain Model Through Partnership with Reliable Secondary Suppliers

October 28, 2025 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Supply Chain Challenges Beginning with the global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, health systems have faced recurring supply chain disruptions that put pressure on both operations and patient care. These included: Frequent backorders and limited […]

Making a Difference with Savings Beyond Price Optimization

October 28, 2025 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Producing a Major Impact on Savings Beyond Price Optimization There are many different views about how Value Analysis is making a difference in our healthcare world, but I believe the biggest difference that Value Analysis […]

One Multi-Site Health System’s Transformative Journey to Optimize Their Inventory with Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL)

October 28, 2025 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Hospitals today typically contain hundreds of storage rooms and thousands of supply bins across multiple, geographically dispersed facilities in their health system. This translates to hundreds of thousands of paper labels that need to be […]

Speed to Safety: Finding the Best Practices, Best Outcomes, and Best Value in Recall Management

June 10, 2025 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Round Table Discussion with RMIG Cherie Bragg, Performance Improvement Coordinator, Recall Administrator, Six Sigma Black Belt, Corporate Supply Chain, Yale New Haven Health Emily Funk, Project Coordinator, Yale New Haven Health Anna Cerilli, Value and […]

Clinical Supply Utilization Management: The Gift that Keeps Giving Big Savings

February 15, 2025 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Clinical supply utilization management (CSUM) is not a one-time event but instead is a fluid and ever-changing system to track everything in your supply chain using patient volume centric metrics to ascertain where savings, problems, […]

Value Analysis Does Not Hate You… Just Your New Product Request Submission

February 15, 2025 Robert Yokl Comments Off

“There are big benefits to thinking of value analysis committee less like the enemy and more like me when I get a brochure in the mail.” I hear an underlying current of frustration and anger […]

Preparing Your Value Analysis Teams for the Generational Shift

February 15, 2025 Robert Yokl Comments Off

When Bob Yokl reached out to me to write this article for HCVA&UM Magazine, he challenged me to write a forward-thinking article that truly has the vision for the future of healthcare value analysis teams. […]

Working Together to Combat Inflation in the Healthcare Supply Chain

November 13, 2024 Robert Yokl Comments Off

Inflation poses a significant challenge for industries across the board, and healthcare is no exception. Hospitals are particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on complex supply chains that deliver essential medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and personal […]