Care Transformation at the Intersection of Quality, Safety and Supply Chain: Leveraging the Power of Collaboration and Innovation Toward Improving Patient Outcomes (64H)

In an increasingly challenging healthcare landscape, the traditional functions of quality, safety, operations and supply chain leadership often operate in silos, with limited interaction between key stakeholders. This lack of collaboration has historically hindered the optimization of the supply chain toward delivering a suboptimal quality of care resulting in subpar patient outcomes. Recognizing this often overlooked, yet critical issue, Ballad Health undertook proactive measures to address this challenge. Initiating a transformative approach, Ballad Health developed a collaborative framework involving quality, safety, operational and supply chain leadership, augmented by the inclusion of nursing and physician leadership. This collaborative has culminated in the establishment of the Clinical Transformation/Quality/Supply Chain Executive Steering Committee, with a clear mandate to recommend and evaluate novel products, technologies and services.

Central to the committee's mission is the cultivation of a robust pipeline of products and solutions geared toward advancing objectives. Through fostering synergistic collaboration among key stakeholders, the committee aims to streamline healthcare delivery, optimize resource allocation and ultimately contribute to the overarching strategic imperatives of Ballad Health. Embodying a commitment to innovation and continuous improvement, Ballad Health has already demonstrated tangible progress through the implementation of innovative supply chain tools. For instance, the introduction of smart Bluetooth socks has proven instrumental in mitigating the incidence of falls within the hospital setting. Another product, a special blood collection device has been successfully piloted and scaled to effectively address issues pertaining to false positive blood contamination resulting in downstream negative impacts to hospitalized patients. Acknowledging the imperative for ongoing diligence, Ballad Health remains steadfast in its dedication to exploring additional avenues for enhancing patient outcomes through innovative supply chain solutions.