Supply Chain Services launch
February 16, 2009: Invisible to you, significant for health care.
After months of work and collaboration, the BC Health Authority Shared Services Organization (SSO) is ready to launch its first services. As of February 16th, the SSO will assume accountability for the provision of Supply Chain Services to all BC health authorities. Although this transition will be invisible to you in terms of your day-to-day interactions with Supply Chain staff within your health authority, the province-wide results will be very significant.
It is anticipated that more than $150 million will be saved over the next five years by moving to a business approach that combines the buying power of the six health authorities. By ensuring that we get the most value for every dollar spent, the health authorities will maximize the resources that go to direct patient care.
All of the health authorities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to consolidate Supply Chain Services within the SSO. The core services identified for consolidation include purchasing, warehousing and distribution. Supply Chain Services will continue to be delivered to meet client/staff needs. In the short-term, and for the foreseeable future, there will be no change in how Supply Chain staff work with staff and clinicians in your health authority. You will continue to access products and services in the same way as you do now.
Going forward, services will be provided through a combination of centralized and decentralized business processes, always recognizing regional needs. Each Health Authority will have a regional branch office that will provide for the local needs of the Health Authority as well as contribute to provincial strategies and initiatives. Over the next few months, the Supply Chain Leads from each of the health authorities will continue to work on developing the future state for Supply Chain within the SSO.
An important aspect of SSO Supply Chain Services will be opportunities for involvement by users of products and services. Health authority staff, clinician and physician input will be critical as we move forward with customer focused provincial Supply Chain Services. For example, physicians will be engaged during the clinical product contracting process and will assist with defining the provincial clinical needs and evaluating the alternatives presented by suppliers.
If you have any questions, please continue to contact the senior director of Supply Chain Services in your health authority.
Other SSO News
The SSO board has two new, external members – Vince Collins and Peter Leighton.
Vince Collins is an experienced public sector senior manager and consultant, with an extensive record in designing and operating shared services. He was part of the senior management team that established the BC Buildings Corporation in the mid 1970s, the first Crown Corporation in Canada to provide a market-based occupancy
service to provincial government ministries and agencies. Vince served as the Chair of the Board of the BC Systems Corporation (1994-95) and as Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Board of BC (1996-1997).
As Deputy Minister, Ministry of Government Services, from 2001 to 2003, Vince designed and implemented the BC Public Service Agency, which is mandated to provide shared human resource services to all provincial government ministries and agencies covered by the BC Public Service Act.
Peter Leighton has extensive management and leadership experience in the energy industry, with specific experience in business transformation; negotiating complex commercial structures and contracts; leading operations in a dynamic environment across multiple locations; project financing; and managing client and supplier relationships.
During his tenure with Accenture (2002-2008) he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Accenture Business Services for Utilities and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer North American Customer Care - Business Process Outsourcing. Prior to Accenture, Peter held senior leadership positions in finance with a variety of companies in the energy sector.
The appointment of Vince Collins and Peter Leighton complete the SSO Board. Other members are chief executive officers of the six health authorities and the chief operating officer of the Ministry of Health Services. The SSO Board provides direction, approvals and oversight related to business issues such as service offerings, pricing and capital expenditures as well as establishing the terms under which SSO provides identified services to each of the six health authorities.