It’s Time for the Health Care Supply Chain to Catch Up - Christopher J. O’Connor
“Over the past few years, hospitals and health systems have begun to engage supply chain leaders who have experience in other fields such as Retail, IT, and even Automotive industries.
These industries have been investing in the supply chain innovation for some time and it’s reflected even at the highest level. For example, Tim Cook of Apple and Mary Barra of General Motors both rose from supply chain positions to become CEOs of their respective companies.
That’s because in many industries supply chain is regarded as essential to both brand and customer experience; especially those in which timely delivery is a major driver of customer satisfaction. See, but in healthcare we have a perception problem and as a result the supply chain has been considered transactional and supply chain executives merely conduits for getting the right supplies to the right place at the right time.
In reality, they should be recognized for their dexterity in navigating the inherent complexities of logistical and legal [issues] that simply are not factors in many other industries.”
More about Christopher J. O’Connor
Christopher J. O’Connor is an experienced CEO and nationally recognized healthcare entrepreneur, innovator, and thought leader. With more than three decades of global experience advising growth-oriented hospitals and health systems in strategic supply chain management, Christopher is known for his breakthrough contributions at the intersection of cost, quality, and outcomes (CQO) improvement.
His crisis leadership was field-tested in the most challenging of situations, leading efforts to maintain Northeast hospital and health system supply chains through multiple crises including Superstorm Sandy and the Ebola and SARS outbreaks.
Under his leadership at Acurity, their client base of 300+ hospitals and health systems represent $7 billion of purchasing volume. Moreover, clients realized extensive cost savings and enhancements to business processes in pharmacy services, purchasing, and contracting. Christopher founded the consulting company, Nexera to complement Acurity’s offerings and to provide strategic supply chain solutions to healthcare organizations seeking a better alignment of efforts related to cost containment, quality, and clinical outcomes.
His work in the CQO field led to the publication of two books, Healthcare Supply Chain at the Intersection of Cost, Quality and Outcomes; and The Healthcare Supply Chain, Best Practices for Operating at the Intersection of Cost, Quality and Outcomes.
Christopher is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the New York Academy of Medicine, and the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) where he also served as Chair. Chris is also a board member of the YMCA of Greater New York and an adjunct faculty member at Cornell University, Pace University, Iona College, and SUNY Binghamton, where he has taught healthcare and supply chain management.
