Back in the early 1990s, Hospital Purchasing News was a busy oversized tabloid, newspaper-style trade publication that concentrated on what was then called materials management and central service topics in the acute care setting, both of which today are nestled under the supply chain and sterile processing and distribution (SPD) umbrella.
By mid-decade as President Clinton’s healthcare reform initiative headed into full swing, HPN embarked on a massive topical and visual redesign that expanded coverage beyond the hospital walls (hence the new name of Healthcare Purchasing News), along with a more colorful and magazine-like look and feel (yes, the old brownish “hpn” price tag was relocated to the historical archives, but check out the photos embedded in “Buyline” online.)
The “new” HPN not only pushed into supply chain and SPD coverage in non-acute settings, which I since have labeled “remote care” but back then was tagged with the curious “alternate site” label. It also steamrollered into operating room/surgical services and infection control topics from a supply chain perspective.
Within the new “OR Purchasing News” mini-magazine, we launched an annual departmental award to recognize cost containment/expense management success in surgical services that joined our annual awards for materials management leader and CS departments. Our goal was to emphasize and promote the importance of managing and reducing costs in the OR, which remains one of the key revenue- and cost-generating departments in the organization.
As HPN changed publishing companies and formats over the years, that Surgical Services award slipped into the historical archives and perhaps the memories of veteran readers through the decades.
Meanwhile, McLeod Health, Florence, SC, earned Honorable Mention for its extensive achievements in its orthopedic service line. Read about both in this edition of HPN and online. We salute these impressive and innovative organizations – Lehigh Valley for its macro perspective and McLeod Health for its micro focus. You should, too.
Who are the 2022 finalists? In alphabetical order, they are HonorHealth, Scottsdale, AZ; NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL; Stony Brook Medicine, Suffolk County, Long Island, NY; and Terrebonne General Health System, Houma, LA. Send them all double high-fives.
