BJC HealthCare reduced the number of spinal implant suppliers across the health system and reported savings, according to a report in the Missourian.
Here are four things to know:
1. In recent years, the health system has reduced the number of spine metal suppliers from 33 to six, according to the report. The health system partnered with hospitals to collect bids and identify the six suppliers to continue providing spinal implants across the network.
2. One of the system's hospitals, Boone Hospital, was able to save $5 million per year by using just the six suppliers BJC identified.
3. Spine patient volume has declined at the hospital in recent years, and Boone's CEO Jim Sinek reported it was initially challenging to achieve the desired price for a hospital with their volume.
4. The six suppliers now used across BJC's network include DePuy, Medtronic, New Age, NuVasive, Stryker and Zimmer Biomet.