Healthcare Supply Chain Technology and Strategy

If you search the internet for DSS, you might find out that  DSS, Digital Satellite System, is a huge improvement over all   types of Cable TV. However in keeping with our security theme and fraud prevention idea's this week we are discussing the PCI-DSS, and how it relates to you as a supply chain member. Not all about how to get the best cable service at the best price. Possibly next post, Sorry...  About the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS):     The PCI DSS, a set of comprehensive requirements for enhancing payment account data security, was developed by the founding payment brands of the PCI Security Standards Council, including American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc. Inc. International, to help facilitate the broad adoption of consistent data security measures on a global basis. The PCI DSS is a multifaceted security standard that includes requirements for security management, policies, p...

Most of us might think, that is the other guy's problem. But as a member of the supply chain it's important to remember that getting paid properly is a pretty important item. To that end this week we are advising customers to start taking advantage of existing options in the MDS system to help combat fraud.  Once such option is our bank positive pay subsystem. What is Positive Pay? Positive Pay is an automated fraud detection tool offered by the Cash Management Department of most banks. In its simplest form, it is a service that matches the account number, check number and dollar amount of each check presented for payment against a list of checks previously authorized and issued by the company. All three components of the check must match exactly or it will not pay.   MDS Allows for Positive Pay in three Ways: •  File Creation Each bank has its own unique file format which MDS has built in templates for. •  File Transmittal MDS will create the file and allow you to t...

Emergency Medical Services supply usage is at an all time high. Is your business focused on this exploding market? There is a growing use of EMS as a “front door” to health care in the United States. People who need to go to a doctor, but do not have a primary care physician, are using an ambulance to get into the medical care system. Increasingly, in both rural and urban settings, EMS is taking the place of the local doctor. With the growing number of uninsured patients and the continuing trend of a shortage of primary care providers this usage will only increase. In addition terrorism, natural disasters and disease outbreaks are in the media everyday. As a result, ambulances are more and more the primary method of emergency care. Want more information? - Click Here for a product data sheet  As a Health care Supply Chain Member have you focused on this growing marketplace? With MDS-EMS, you have the tools to address the needs of this growing marketplace! And once you capture ...

Technology today, particularly big data and analytics, are changing roles throughout the enterprise, whether it's the CIO constantly faced with decisions about technology, or supply chain members that can make the sales marketing function more data-driven and efficient, everyone is being affected. Even the CFO role is not immune.  The CFO doesn't really have to be a technologist, but they have to understand how the power of technology can help them do their job. The pressures on the CFO are not terribly different than they've always been, but the data driven connectivity of our world and the rate of change adds to it. They need to be able to react to change quickly with speed and flexibility. At the recent Bloomberg CFO Summit  this week on the topic: "Dealing with New Technology and Building a Business Case for It." They outlined that the CFO is focused on reducing costs, speed (especially improved time to value) and flexibility — all achieved in a secure way. T...

In 2006, Congress gave DHS $47 million to prepare for such a national medical crisis.  I won't go into the mismanagement of the DHS and how bad it is at inventory management, but as a supply chain member you can help.  Read the gory details here if you like. But the long and short of it is that they need help and you can provide it.   Link to full report here :  http://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mgmt/2014/OIG_14-129_Aug14.pdf DHS agreed with all 11 suggestions the Inspector General's Office made to improve the program. The department will assign an office to oversee the supplies and develop an adequate strategy for making sure the material stays current. It has applied for a shelf life extension with the Food and Drug Administration to extend the expiration dates on the antiviral medicine it has that will expire in 2015. HIDA has developed an Ebola information clearinghouse for supply chain news of particular interest to distributors, manufacturers and other industry st...