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Completed Research Projects

Physician Preference Item Management (PPIM) . This research evaluated innovative strategies utilized at hospital systems for their management of physician preference items. During the 2008 HSRC-ASU Dissemination Conference, representatives of these identified hospital systems, consortium board members and guests, and other leading experts were brought together for a day-long conference to share strategy, discuss best practices for PPIM, and provide a platform for conceptualization of a cross-disciplinary clinical strategic sourcing center model for PPIM. In follow-up of this conference, a white paper was developed and disseminated.
Hospital-Physician Gainsharing in Cardiology . This was the first rigorous analysis of the value that gainsharing brings to the health sector as a strategy to align hospital and physicians via incentives for standardization, process improvement and efficiency. The research was published in Health Affairs in 2008.

Centralization of the Supply Chain Function . A case study and consultation on centralization of supply chain function was carried out in conjunction with Catholic Health Initiatives. "Alignment of CHI Materials Management Leaders" was presented at the International Research Study of Public Procurement, 3rd Workshop, Paris, France, in September 2007.
Strategic Sourcing & Outsourcing Practices . This project targeted best practices in strategic sourcing and outsourcing from non-health care industries for adoption in health care organizations.

Supply Metrics. The HSRC-ASU provided the research funding for the genesis of SCMetrix^TM, a benchmarking and performance measurement tool. SCMetrix^TM was subsequently spun-off and is now a joint venture between Arizona State University and the Association for Health Care Resources and Materials Managers.