Hospital material[dollar sign] management
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A hospital has a long-term contract with a supplier for all of the hospital's requirements of certain items at set prices. The contract has three years yet to run. The contract has a clause saying that the supplier will remain price competitive. ⋯ The supplier refuses to release the hospital from the long-term contract. In this dialogue, Dr. Decker discusses the legal issues raised by this situation and makes some suggestions for dealing with the problem.
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A strong materials management department will be essential for hospitals if hospitals are to survive the challenges of today. Communication with the department's customers is a key to a strong effective department. In this article, the author outlines the components of a user's guide to be distributed to other departments from materials management. This user's guide enhances the understanding by other departments of materials management's role, function, and policies.