Healthcare Matters

Instead of the traditional method of adding air to the cuff and relying on tissue compression to seal the pharynx and esophageal opening, Intersurgical’s i-gel airway management product takes an innovative, yet uncompromising detour in search of a better solution that also happens to add patient comfort. Its anatomical shape and soft gel-like thermoplastic cuff has been engineered to be softer than the surrounding anatomical structures, providing an impression fit without added inflation. By eliminating cuff inflation, the associated risks to patients, such as sore throat, dysphagia and dysphonia, are greatly reduced. This non-latex and non-PVC airway management product is designed to improve clinical efficacy in the adult and pediatric patient during routine anesthesia, emergency airway management and resuscitation.

If that medical terminology causes your ADHD to kick-in, here’s the net: The claim is that the product simply works better; it’s made of materials that are intentionally softer than the human tissue that surrounds it (against which it can make an effective seal without relying on inflated pressure); the result is a patient who is more comfortable and can recover without the negative side effects of the previous generation solutions.

Most GPOs host some form of supplier technology showcase. MedAssets, Premier and Novation all do it. And they heavily promote these events for a variety of obvious reasons, including the fact that healthcare supply chains are tough nuts to crack. If you’re a new or niche supplier with a fresh idea, what are your options when you know that the decision-makers in your target market want to deal with fewer suppliers and standardize wherever possible?

The GPOs have been called a lot of things. In this context, I’ll call them “brokers of innovation,” and I’m not even certain they (the GPOs) understand how important their role in this regard actually is. Novation’s Innovative Technology Program facilitates new product introductions by working with member councils and task forces to identify and review new or innovative technology that provides an incremental clinical benefit over existing products. Since 2003, more than 500 new and innovative technologies have been reviewed through Novation’s Innovative Technology Program. “Whenever possible, Novation seeks to add products that advance the benefit to patient care, patient safety and health care worker safety to our portfolio as the products become available for use in the United States,” said Debbie Archer, director, procurement and innovative technology, Novation. “Our Innovative Technology program allows us to take a thorough and sophisticated approach to reviewing the exciting new products entering the market, while also fully engaging hospital member input and feedback.” Novation says all the right things and has consistently promoted new products that “make the grade” and become part of its contract portfolio. That’s a good thing.

In a more general sense, whether spearheaded by the GPO, driven at the provider level, or both, I’ve been harping on the importance of programmatic innovation transfer –because it’s too often an afterthought or an ad hoc process that depends on the innovator getting lucky enough to find an inside track. My point is this: the “inside track” should be a well-developed and defined process that rewards the SCM professionals who embrace it. Seeking to standardize at the expense of remaining fluid –open to alternatives– is not a trade0ff any SCM organization should ever be prepared to make.

Source: Novation

—Tom Finn