Most organizations don’t have a Value Analysis Strategic Plan in place for their value analysis program, but given the fact that value analysis is becoming a more integral component to your Supply Chain department’s success, it makes sense to start thinking about developing a VASP sooner rather than later. Let’s face it, the healthcare supply chain’s clinical integration and already busy value analysis workflows are taking on a life of their own, and having a VASP in place and keeping it updated on an ongoing basis will be a decided advantage moving forward.
It’s Time to Give You and Your Health System a Decided Advantage
I am incredibly lucky to work with Health System Supply Chain VPs, Directors, as well as CFOs around the country who understand the value of value analysis but also the need to have a VASP in place for every aspect of their health system’s VA programs. I cannot tell you the frequent questions I hear from these leaders when planning for changes/advancements in their respective VA programs. For example, “How are you going to operationalize this change and/or that upgrade?”, which is one of the most important questions you can ask when making changes and advancements to your VA program. Anyone can pitch an idea here or there, but you need a VASP to gain long-term traction throughout a health system.
- A VA Program with No Plan is a Plan for Less Success – There, I said it, you need a VASP! Keep this in mind as you move forward with your VA program. If you want to keep it moving forward in the right success-driven direction, then you are going to need a VASP. There is too much going on in the VA world to shoot from the hip. Take the time to strategically plan and model your current plan so you can then model what the future changes will look like.
- We’re in Healthcare, Everything Has to be Planned Out – In order to get buy-in on any and all changes/advancements to your value analysis program, you need to communicate in a clear and concise manner to your senior leadership team. With a VASP in place you can set up all of the changes and adjustments you want and need to make in order to streamline your VA program all with the oversight and approval of your leadership team. They may change, adjust, or pause an idea or two from time to time but you can rest assured that they will take more notice of your strategies, best practices, and ideas moving forward if you present them in an ongoing VASP format.
- It Needs to be Ongoing – If you can just get to the point where you can get your bosses to approve the process of putting a VASP in place to start with, that is a great start. Implement that VASP! Remember, you walk with the initial plan in place and then you can start to really move when you implement your improvements and advancements. Then, continue to update the VASP on a minimum of an annual basis. That way your program does not get stale or lose momentum but instead allows you and your team to upgrade your value analysis program year after year.
- VASPs Make for Better Ways to Pitch Budgetary Approvals for VA – VA now involves things like VA workflow software, recall management services and software, as well as new hires to take on the duties within the VA program. Spending money requires that you must justify these upgrades to your VA program and there is no better way than to justify them in your VASP. It’s easy to say, “We need more help,” or “We need this software or that software,” but that may not always be the best way to go about this. Preferably you will want to detail exactly what that new software or employee will do for your VA program right in your VASP. You can share the challenges you have and develop the solutions with options for them to choose from right in your VASP. Senior leaders like well-thought-out and documented strategies for change, especially when it comes in the form of a VASP.
VA Programs are Only Scratching the Surface of Major Improvements to Health Systems’ Costs and Quality
As we embark on new areas and advanced strategies that will take our value analysis programs to new levels, we need to take a step back and plan out exactly how all these changes are going to positively impact our healthcare organization. As I always say, VA programs are just scratching the surface of the potential that they can bring to your health system’s cost and quality improvements.
Remember to shine a light on the excellent work you are doing in your VASPs as well as plan for advanced software and programs within your VA program like Clinical Supply Utilization Management and benchmarking. Use your ongoing VASP as a vehicle for massive improvements to your VA program and gain all the major results that these improvements will bring to the table. Get working on your VASP today!
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