Introduction of Letters - Ascension Health

Upcoming messages
A series of communications from The Resource Group will detail new processes and
procedures currently being developed and outline your role in The Resource Group’s journey to
deploy a High Reliability Procure to Pay Process. The communications will address the
following topics:
• Supplier Information Sessions: Informational webinar sessions have been scheduled
to take place over the next two months. These sessions will allow The Resource
Group’s senior leadership to discuss the details of the business transformation activities
being implemented across Ascension Health.
• Contract Procedure: Maintaining a contract procedure provides our patients and
associates with increased safety and quality, while minimizing risk. In order to continue
to provide safe and secure products and services to our patients, associates, physicians
and clinicians, we are developing a procedure for the System which will provide that we
will not purchase products that are not associated with a contract. We will provide an
implementation timeline for this procedure once it is finalized.
• Purchase Order (PO) Procedure: Significant purchase details are lost when a PO is
not utilized. In order to maintain the integrity of our internal controls, we are developing a
procedure for the System which will require purchases to be made on a PO. This change
will begin February 15, 2013. Purchased Services will transition to this new procedure
June 2013.
• Supplier Access Management Process: The Vendor Access Management Process,
established in February 2010, addresses supplier access requirements. This process
will be redistributed along with delineated changes to the consignment-management
process.
• Internet Registry of Purchased Supplies: We will provide Internet access to a registry
of all items purchased by our Health Ministries. This resource is intended to allow our
suppliers the ability to view data in our information system that, if not correct, adds
inefficiencies to our collective ordering and payment processes. The registry will
exclude pricing, volumes of purchases or specific requisitioning locations, though key
information such as manufacturer, item numbers, descriptions and ordering units of
measure will be available. We will provide access to this website once it is available.
• Supplier Access Management Process: In support of our User-Directed Strategic
Sourcing process, new product and service requests will be documented in a
centralized location. The request process will allow you to highlight key elements of your
product or service as well as provide additional information that documents proof of
clinical or end-user acceptability. We will provide an implementation timeline for this
process once it is finalized.
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