Below is a list of the Executive Dialogues that have run in Materials Management in Health Care.

July 2007
Keys to Developing a High-Performance Supply Chain
Excelling in supply chain management takes more than superior bargaining powers. Demonstrated leadership, excellent communication skills and the ability to create enduring partnerships with inside customers, GPOs, manufacturers and distributors are essential. As hospital and health system materials managers strive to reach top-tier performance, however, many continue to encounter fundamental challenges.

November 2006
Cleaning Up Supply Chain Data
By all accounts, lack of data integrity in the health care supply chain is costing hospitals, manufacturers, distributors and group purchasing organizations billions of dollars each year. Inaccurate item masters, lack of standards in how products are identified for e-commerce and a lack of synchronization between supplier data and information maintained by materials management systems and other data-related problems are sending troublesome ripples through the supply chain. Health Forum convened a group of health care executives and industry experts for a closed-door dialogue Sept. 7 in Chicago to discuss ways to achieve data integrity. Health Forum would like to thank all the participants for their open and candid discussion, as well as the sponsors for supporting this event.

July 2006
IT Implementation Challenges and Solutions
Executives who invest political and financial capital in information systems to improve materials management have high expectations for operational improvements. Whether the purchases end up being true solutions is another matter. As many hospitals find, success isn’t tied solely to whether the technology has the capability to perform the desired functions. The key drivers range from whether staff will use new systems, their ability to read and analyze resulting data and what pre- and post-installation process changes are necessary for success. Health Forum convened a group of health care executives and industry vendors for a roundtable dialogue June 1, 2006, in Chicago to discuss IT implementation challenges and solutions. Health Forum would like to thank all of the participants for their open and candid discussion, as well as the sponsors for supporting this event.

February 2006
Partnering to Improve the Supply Chain
Successful materials management extends far beyond the hospital walls. More than ever, effective materials managers are partnering with suppliers, distributors, manufacturers and group purchasing organizations to reduce costs, improve inventory control and increase operational efficiency. This requires partners who are intimately familiar with both the unique requirements of individual health care settings and best practices throughout the industry. Beyond achieving better balance-sheet results, this consultative approach ultimately leads to standardized, proven processes that help ensure quality care is delivered safely. Health Forum convened a group of health care executives and industry vendors Nov. 4, 2005, in Chicago to discuss hospital-vendor partnerships. The closed-door dialogue focused on how hospitals can work with vendors to improve operations. Health Forum would like to thank all of the participants for their open and candid discussion, as well as the sponsors for supporting this event.