Product and equipment strategies for surgical services.

One of the most difficult challenges a materiel manager can face is designing different programs to support materiel management services for specific clinical and ancillary areas of the hospital. While basic service standards for purchasing and logistic services should exist for all areas, a large part of how effective a materiel management department is depends on customized program development. In other words, fine tuning services to major customers, such as the Operating Room, can mean the difference between simply filling supply orders and aggressive cost control. This article reviews how Baystate Medical Center (Springfield, MA) maintains consistency in standardizing materiel services while adapting to the requirements of individual departments, such as Surgical Services.