By Andrew Brandenburg, MBA
Healthcare Cost-Savings & Cost-Recovery Expert

The response to my last blog was great!  Thank you all for your comments.  The dialogue that followed has encouraged me to share a few more thoughts – and today – I have an important one.  July marks a midway point in the calendar year, and for me, it has always been an ideal time for reflection on what has happened so far in the year and what I have learned… and more than that, what will come next.

This year, a recurring theme has emerged from the countless articles, client meetings, and tradeshows I’ve encountered: The paramount concern across all hospital departments is delivering better patient care.

Yeah, I guess that could be said, on some level, every year…  I get it, but this year feels different. And I want to challenge everyone to get on board and get involved.

Every patient-facing employee I encounter at a healthcare system is obsessed with creating healthier patient communities. This is nothing new.  But what I am seeing now is an even more pronounced way that non-patient-facing roles such as finance, supply chain, procurement, compliance, and legal (the departments from my side of the hospital) are recognizing their pivotal, critical role in facilitating healthier patient communities. Every action, from financial decisions to hiring plans, to investment strategies, to compliance matters, and on and on…  can and should be driven by the goal of improving patient care.

As an employee at SpendMend, a company that focuses on optimizing cost-cycles to fund patient care, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of aligning around this crucial objective.

So, in this blog (although I am still forming some of my thoughts) I wanted to spend a little time sharing my observations about some of the key concepts I have witnessed for the past 6 months.

Patient Care

This is a North Star Goal in any healthcare setting! The primary objective should always be providing exceptional patient care. It serves as the guiding principle that influences decisions made at every level and within every department. Although some roles may not directly interact with patients, the best professionals recognize their job’s broader purpose in supporting and enhancing patient care.

Finance

Smart finances enable optimal care delivery. In the financial department, every stroke of the pen or keystroke on a computer should contribute to better patient care. By maintaining accurate financial records; ensuring efficient billing processes; and controlling costs; finance professionals play a vital role in supporting healthcare organizations. Their efforts directly impact the availability of resources, equipment, and advanced treatments that ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Supply Chain and Procurement

The supply chain and procurement departments are responsible for ensuring the availability of essential medical supplies, medications, and equipment. By streamlining processes, negotiating favorable contracts, and establishing effective inventory management systems; these professionals contribute to the seamless delivery of patient care. Timely access to necessary resources enables healthcare providers to focus on their core mission—caring for patients.

Compliance and Legal

Safeguarding Patient Well-being Compliance and legal departments may not have direct patient contact, but their role is critical in ensuring patient safety and protecting healthcare organizations from legal and regulatory risks. By upholding ethical standards, maintaining confidentiality, and mitigating potential liabilities, these professionals create an environment that fosters trust and instills confidence in patients and their families. Ultimately, their efforts contribute to a culture of safety and quality care.

Beyond Direct Patient Interaction

While some roles have more direct interaction with patients, it’s crucial to recognize that every individual within a healthcare organization contributes to the overall patient experience. Each task completed effectively and efficiently brings us one step closer to delivering better healthcare. The dedication and passion of professionals in non-patient-facing roles should not be underestimated; their work indirectly impacts patient care by establishing a foundation of operational excellence.

The Role of Companies like SpendMend

Companies like SpendMend exemplify the understanding that patient care is a collective responsibility. By providing visibility, insight, containment, and optimization into the cost-cycle, organizations like SpendMend assist hospitals in controlling costs, reducing risk, and funding patient care initiatives.

I’ve worked for SpendMend for over a year and I heard early and often that our mission was to deliver our solutions so that our clients could leverage the beneficial result and drive better patient care.

At first, I wondered if this was just a clever approach to the market, but after sitting with our CEO on several occasions and hearing the genuine passion in his voice when explaining what motivates him to come to work every day… I’ve realized that this is genuinely our MISSION. In addition to the patient-facing and non-facing staff at health systems across the U.S., I am proud to observe that SpendMend is part of the movement to place Patient Care as our North Star Goal. This is communicated from the top-down daily. No matter our positions and responsibilities, we all collectively contribute to the success of our company’s mission: saving health systems money. In the same way, no matter your position at a hospital or IDN, know that you contribute to the success of your company’s mission within healthcare.

I encourage other service providers in the healthcare space to adopt a similar philosophy.  Not only will you do better as a company, you’ll feel as proud of your work as I do.  And let me tell you, that is a very good feeling.