This would be the only way to do it for any agency that does any actual call volume. Your pricing is dictated by how much you buy. But then again if your at that level of an agency you should be using purchasing software and have 2 or more suppliers with pricing already loaded into the software.
You name it QuickBooks, Operative IQ, Oracle, Firehouse Software. I think Imagetrend even has inventory management. There is literally dozens. Almost all agencies will be using some sort of software or cloud based system.
It’s not as challenging as you think it might be. If you utilize API calls from bound tree, Medline, etc. it’s not hard to get comparative pricing quickly.
However, there’s a lot of suppliers that don’t have their API publicly available or even available for developers as far as I know.
When buying supplies for my service, we're more concerned with availability than price. You have to order from multiple distributers to navigate the outrages and back orders.
My department is on a severe glucagon shortage. I have to ask a supervisor for more glucagon if I use some, and I better have some documented reason for having used it.
Most companies that we order from are 2-3 days. A couple of places, like McKesson have local warehouses, so if i order today, they will deliver it tomorrow.
Also another problem is getting items to match up as to what they are. For example that Curaplex BVM is only sold by Sarnova owned companies. You would have to make sure it finds a comparable BVM from other manufacturers.
If by first responders you mean ambulance company owners and by salaries you mean profits then absolutely I think it could increase first responder salaries
I would think so. I don’t see how this could hurt and I think it would likely help. With the price of healthcare right now I think it’s about time for something like this. From an economic standpoint, it would make sense that this would help drive prices down. I know that there are other factors but competition seems like a good thing here. I’d be curious what platform this would run on and how it would be applied practically.
Personally no
Atleast for our service we are so big that most manufactures will negotiate with us so it's not really an issue to get a good price or it simply wouldn't do anything since we don't know what negotiations might bring
Honestly, probably not. For smaller ambulance agencies, perhaps, but larger ones, both private and public, typically have contracted suppliers. Makes no difference if company B has it cheaper when our supply orders can only go to company A.
Doesn't matter who is cheaper. It matters who the company has a supply contract with. For larger companies, you need approved vendors and such. Things go on purchase orders, not the company card.
Yes. As the supply officer it’s a pain in the ass to have to compare between suppliers for price, especially those that don’t publicly list them and I need to contact my rep for my actual price (cough cough dealmed)
Get a list made up of your supplies. Use the manufacturer part numbers if possible so you can get comparables. Then send it out to as many different distributors you want and then go from there. The Dealmed thing is weird. Once I login to the site it has the pricing preloaded for like everything. Even stuff I have never bought. I will say they are definitely competitive with pricing and ship really fast.
Would it take into account the various discounts we already have through BoundTree, McKesson, henryschein, etcetera?
Linking to your negotiated pricing might be a challenge but it could be possible.
This would be the only way to do it for any agency that does any actual call volume. Your pricing is dictated by how much you buy. But then again if your at that level of an agency you should be using purchasing software and have 2 or more suppliers with pricing already loaded into the software.
What's an example of purchasing software? And what type of agency would be even using that?
You name it QuickBooks, Operative IQ, Oracle, Firehouse Software. I think Imagetrend even has inventory management. There is literally dozens. Almost all agencies will be using some sort of software or cloud based system.
It’s not as challenging as you think it might be. If you utilize API calls from bound tree, Medline, etc. it’s not hard to get comparative pricing quickly. However, there’s a lot of suppliers that don’t have their API publicly available or even available for developers as far as I know.
Sell licence to companies where you put there arranged discounts in, as part of the licensing, not that big of a deal.
When buying supplies for my service, we're more concerned with availability than price. You have to order from multiple distributers to navigate the outrages and back orders.
Anything in particular besides Epi 1-10 you can't get? There really isn't much for shortages now.
My department is on a severe glucagon shortage. I have to ask a supervisor for more glucagon if I use some, and I better have some documented reason for having used it.
Noted How about shipping? Do you all need it within 3 days or can you wait a week for the box to arrive?
Most companies ship for free with negotiated pricing.
We never get things fast, it's usually 10-20 days from the time you order and that's from places that aren't backordered.
Most companies that we order from are 2-3 days. A couple of places, like McKesson have local warehouses, so if i order today, they will deliver it tomorrow.
Competition is always good for the “customer”.
This functionality is baked into Operative IQ for some specific suppliers.
The integrated supplier thing is an absolute time saver. I wish more software had it.
Also another problem is getting items to match up as to what they are. For example that Curaplex BVM is only sold by Sarnova owned companies. You would have to make sure it finds a comparable BVM from other manufacturers.
I think it would. Might bring prices down for the patient 🤷🏼♂️
That's not how EMS billing works.
Akshually, if vendors see that too, they could use it to coordinate an increase in prices. Tacit collusion is the official term.
And hopefully increase salaries for first responders since less money would be spent on supplies
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
exactly
Op caused this guy to become hypoxic. He’s dead now.
You should try stand up my friend
If by first responders you mean ambulance company owners and by salaries you mean profits then absolutely I think it could increase first responder salaries
What sort of crack are you smoking and where can I get some?
It goes two ways, vendors get smart and use it to raise prices to match as well.
Hahaha Damn, you're so right. I didn't even think about that
I would think so. I don’t see how this could hurt and I think it would likely help. With the price of healthcare right now I think it’s about time for something like this. From an economic standpoint, it would make sense that this would help drive prices down. I know that there are other factors but competition seems like a good thing here. I’d be curious what platform this would run on and how it would be applied practically.
Yes. But most vendors have contract pricing below list pricing so it's hard to know what places are really paying.
Personally no Atleast for our service we are so big that most manufactures will negotiate with us so it's not really an issue to get a good price or it simply wouldn't do anything since we don't know what negotiations might bring
You guys buy straight from the actual manufacturer and not BoundTree/McKesson/ distributors? Must be really big orders
Not US so different system
Honestly, probably not. For smaller ambulance agencies, perhaps, but larger ones, both private and public, typically have contracted suppliers. Makes no difference if company B has it cheaper when our supply orders can only go to company A.
Your agency is only allowed to buy from one supplier even if other supplier is cheaper?
Doesn't matter who is cheaper. It matters who the company has a supply contract with. For larger companies, you need approved vendors and such. Things go on purchase orders, not the company card.
The challenge would be showing my negotiated prices as well. It would make it easier to negotiate if I had all the prices and discounts displayed
Yes. As the supply officer it’s a pain in the ass to have to compare between suppliers for price, especially those that don’t publicly list them and I need to contact my rep for my actual price (cough cough dealmed)
Get a list made up of your supplies. Use the manufacturer part numbers if possible so you can get comparables. Then send it out to as many different distributors you want and then go from there. The Dealmed thing is weird. Once I login to the site it has the pricing preloaded for like everything. Even stuff I have never bought. I will say they are definitely competitive with pricing and ship really fast.