During 2020, COVID-19 ushered in changes that impacted every aspect of your life—from work, to home, to family, to recreation. Our more than 80 blog posts during 2020 were developed to help inform, empower and inspire you while you care for patients and communities during this historic time.
Much of the information still rings true today. Here are the five blog posts you found most helpful during 2020 along with five more you won't want to miss.
The Top Five Most Popular Blog Posts of 2020:
5 Pieces of Folk Wisdom to Help Address COVID-19 Workforce Shortages
The modern world has not encountered a pandemic like COVID-19, which has many organizations scrambling to identify the best way to deal with the massive toll it will inevitably take on the U.S. health care system and its workforce. It’s evident this virus has a timeline all its own, so not only should you be thinking about what to do today and tomorrow to care for patients, but the impact on your organization and staff resources for months to come. Melanie Bell, MSN, RN, CENP, associate vice president, contract labor, shares five ways to identify and address workforce issues while continuing to provide the best care possible.
How to Leverage What COVID-19 Taught Us About the Health Care Supply Chain
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to provide many lessons about the health care supply chain. Judi Proctor, senior consultant, supply chain management operations, encourages supply chain leaders to ask questions that start with the words “what,” “why” and “when" and use the answers to develop solutions that lead to sustainable improvements to ensure a health care supply chain that is resilient and dynamic for all. Here’s her three big questions to consider.
Embracing the Work-From-Home Chaos
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone in some form or fashion. From schools, hospitals, health providers and supply chain, to Congress and behind-the-scene workers providing delivery and cleaning services. Bri Huedepohl, DHSc, RT(R), director, contract Services, shares five tips to help reduce your work-from-home chaos.
When Changing Products and Suppliers Due to COVID-19, Education Documents are the Key to Success
As COVID-19 cases continue across the nation, many health care organizations are making critical, far-reaching changes to products and suppliers to meet rapidly changing patient and clinical demands. While changing products and suppliers quickly enables providers to keep their patients and front-line health care workers protected, it can also cause anxiety for everyone in the hospital charged with implementing and supporting the change. Jeffrey F. Solarek, senior consultant, supply chain operations services, recommends a concise, well-written and broadly communicated education document. Learn how to create one and what needs to be in it.
Enhance Your Supply Chain Career with Professional Certifications
The advice from Jeffrey F. Solarek, senior consultant, supply chain operations services, is that anyone currently in a supply chain role or who wants to begin a supply chain career should “pursue certifications.” Earning a supply chain certification (or certifications) demonstrates your expertise in the supply chain industry and can help you to advance in your career. Not sure where to begin? Solarek shares his experience and tips.
Five More Blog Posts from 2020 You Won't Want to Miss:
Five Data Sources to Engage Physicians in Evaluating Preference Items
There are five key drivers for a successful evaluation of physician preference items, including engaging physicians. When all five of these drivers are present, health care organizations can achieve significant savings and improved quality. While all of five of the drivers are important, engaging physicians is essential. You might find it challenging to determine which data sources are most valuable in your effort to engage physicians. Cindy Jones, MBA, principal, shares her insights about the primary data sources that when combined, can lead to the greatest success. She notes that focusing on only one or two of the data sources can shortchange understanding the big picture. Learn which five are important and why.
Evaluating your Block Schedule: Dive Right In
Ensuring the right block schedule is crucial to maximize operating room utilization, regain and retain case volume, and achieve the financial goals of your organization. Scuba diver Rosanne Zagone Nipko, RN, senior consulting director, says it can sometimes feel as intimidating as the thought of diving with sharks. Learn why Zagone Nipko says there’s never been a better time to take the dive.
The Power of an Enterprise-wide, Data-driven Strategy
Health systems and providers continue to face ongoing challenges associated with delivering high-quality, cost-effective care while balancing decreasing reimbursements and new value-based payment models. COVID-19 has heightened the need for organizations to be adaptable, flexible and reliable. Lina Patel, MHA, FACHE, associate vice president, product strategy and management, shares why a comprehensive enterprise-wide data-driven strategy is essential to adapting and thriving in this new environment.
Ensuring Maximum Well-being and Engagement During COVID-19 and Beyond: A Checklist for Clinician Onboarding
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, most health systems have been strained by increased levels of stress and burnout, absenteeism, and turnover among its clinicians. The pandemic is placing increased demands on health systems and clinicians as well as a renewed focus on the importance of clinician well-being. An effective clinician onboarding program can help ensure clinician well-being and engagement throughout their career—including times of immense stress—but it needs to begin on day one. Lynette Kee, MA, programmatic advisor, clinical workforce solutions, shares the essential clinician onboarding program checklist.
What to Consider When Purchasing Mammography Equipment for Your Organization
As 2-dimensional full-field digital mammography systems and first-generation digital breast tomosynthesis near the end of their service lives, hospitals and health systems have an opportunity to replace both pieces of equipment with a singular device. As mammography technology continues to evolve, Ashley Mayzner, portfolio executive, shares three factors that supply chain leaders should consider when evaluating mammography purchases.