The Challenge
Historically, several procurement and supply chain processes across NSW Health relied heavily on manual procedures. Business information was managed through emails, Excel spreadsheets and paper records without any real integration, making critical decision making harder.
These manual processes impacted the visibility of the data available throughout the supply chain. This made it more challenging for NSW Health to make evidence-based procurement decisions and to capture and analyse important information.
The Plan
eHealth NSW in partnership with HealthShare NSW was charged with delivering a complete end-to-end digital solution for procurement and supply chain that feeds into our existing NSW Health systems.
For the supply chain to be transformed, we needed to improve how data is collected, used and managed by NSW Health facilities, to ensure decision making is based on reliable and trusted information.
eHealth NSW worked closely with HealthShare NSW and local health districts to develop the solution and ensure it aligned with NSW Health’s current and future procurement and supply chain needs.
The Outcome
SmartChain solutions deliver automated processes and reliable procurement and supply chain data, enabling value-based healthcare leading to better outcomes for patients. They also deliver an improved user experience for staff (for example, by reducing manual procedures and providing more time available for clinical care), customers and suppliers.
The SmartChain Traceability solution is an end-to-end tracking solution that manages the supply of implantable devices and other products across the supply chain. The solution can quickly track items to patients, improving stock management, and enhancing ordering and reporting capabilities. It also reduces the risks of adverse patient safety outcomes in the event of product recalls.
SmartChain is focused on workstreams which, once fully implemented, will form a single end-to-end solution hosted within StaffLink.
Workstreams include:
- Sourcing & Contracts
- Dataflow
- Supply Chain Traceability
- Business Intelligence & Analytics
- P2P (procure-to-pay)
The Benefits
The financial benefits for NSW Health are:
- Reduction in reoccurring costs
- Reduced end-to-end costs to deliver products
- Improved accuracy and visibility of data
- Reduced spend on products
- Improved supplier relationships and contract management through better data visibility
The strategic benefits are:
- Improved data integration
- Improved readiness for procurement challenges, for example bush fires and floods
- Improved compliance
- Process efficiencies
- Increased automation