by Khatereh Calleja, J.D., President and CEO of Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA).

As the health care landscape continues to evolve, fostering the development and implementation of cutting-edge technologies in the health care system is more important than ever before. Innovation in the health care supply chain can ensure that health care providers have access to the best new products and services possible to improve patient care.  At the same time, the actual process of introducing innovation into the health care system can be challenging to navigate. The health care supply chain is complex and involves a number of different stakeholders and in today’s fast-paced environment, companies need to not only navigate the supply chain, but also navigate it efficiently.  

As the sourcing and purchasing partners to America’s acute and long-term health care providers, health care group purchasing organizations (GPOs) are a valuable resource for health care stakeholders looking to introduce and implement new technology into the health care system. GPOs are on the front lines of many of the most significant challenges facing America’s health care providers and working to support value based purchasing, disaster response, emergency preparedness and diversity in the supply chain.  With a unique line of sight over the entire health care system – from raw manufacturing materials to new medical products to the delivery to patients – this visibility enables GPOs to work with suppliers with innovative products and help bring those products to market.  

At The MedTech Conference this year, I’ll be moderating a panel on how stakeholders can work with GPOs to introduce health care innovation in the supply chain. We are bringing together a leading group of supply chain experts from GPOs and the suppliers who have worked with them to discuss their recent experiences in medtech, industry trends, new innovation forums, diversity programs and value based initiatives to foster optimal, high quality health care.  Our panelists – who bring first-hand knowledge from their key roles at Premier Inc. and Vizient along with CEO medtech leadership representing small, mid and large companies – will discuss successful partnerships, best practices and how they have successfully worked together and launched new innovations with GPOs.  

In pursuit of further fostering innovation in the health care space, attendees can also join us for a meetup to be held on Tuesday, September 24 at 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in East Registration with GPO contracting, diversity and innovation program leaders.You will have the opportunity to meet supply chain leaders who have been working with medtech innovators, network with peers and learn about how your company can work with a GPO.The health care marketplace is a complex arena and there’s no better place to explore the latest developments in health care and efforts to improve patient care than at The MedTech Conference this year. We hope to see you there and be sure to join us on Monday for the panel on “Chasing Value: Understanding How to Work with GPOs to Introduce New Health Care Innovation in the Supply Chain” and the meetup on Tuesday morning.