Crozer-Keystone Health System recently received two VHA Standardization Awards for supply chain performance: the Participation Leader Award and the Executive Savings Awards. CKHS is the only member in the VHA East Coast to be recognized with both these awards.

VHA provides its members with a portfolio of supply, pharmacy, capital and purchased service contracts through Novation, the contracting services company of VHA. These contracts allow health systems like Crozer-Keystone to obtain supplies, equipment and services at competitive rates. Crozer-Keystone obtains about 85 percent of its supplies through Novation Supply Contracts. In addition to receiving the cost savings these contracts offer, Crozer-Keystone has gained rebates for its compliance in Novation’s “Standardization” programs.   

The health system earned the Participation Leader Award because of its outstanding performance in nine of these standardization programs. The Executive Savings Award recognizes hospitals that have cumulatively saved over $250,000 in rebates.

“The benefit to Crozer-Keystone comes from achieving significant reductions in our supply expenses through standardization programs without negatively impacting care for our patients,” says Anita Keenan, director of Purchasing for Crozer-Keystone. “The Purchasing staff and CKHS committee members work very hard to implement these standardization programs. It provides a great deal of satisfaction to know that their efforts are bringing achievements for CKHS departments.”

Keenan says that her staff will continue to look for ways to maximize standardization opportunities and increase the amount of rebates they receive.

“On a daily basis, the Purchasing staff and VHA work together to find opportunities to reduce cost for supplies and services, and maintain quality service to every patient,” Keenan says.

VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national alliance that provides industry-leading supply chain management services and supports the formation of regional and national networks to help members improve their clinical and economic performance. With 16 offices across the U.S., VHA has a track record of proven results in serving more than 1,400 not-for-profit hospitals and more than 21,000 non-acute health care organizations nationwide.