Cooperative vendor selection saves money, helps improve care.

A cooperative effort between physicians and facility administrators with respect to purchase of materials and services can reduce costs dramatically and provide clinical benefits, as well. At Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa., orthopaedic physicians and hospital administrators developed a process for selecting a single source of implants used in total joint replacement procedures. As a result, the medical center was able to enter into a volume purchasing contract anticipated to save the medical center about $630,000 over the two-year period of the contract.