HealthTrust’s second live bidding event delivers additional savings while strengthening member alignment & supplier partnerships
Through HealthTrust’s live bidding events, members who participate can benefit from additional savings on equipment and medical supplies while achieving their standardization goals.
“The objective of a HealthTrust-initiated live bidding event is to gain additional value for members who commit to a specific supplier through a competitive and transparent bidding process,” explains Strategic Sourcing Assistant Vice President Junette Grant, a co-leader of the recent live bidding initiative.
To date, HealthTrust has hosted two live bidding events—the most recent one in September for monopolar supplies. Member participation has increased since the inaugural event that focused on operating room surgical tables. “We certainly built on the momentum of the first live bidding event we held last year, going from seven participating health systems to eight this time around,” shares Jennel Lengle, MSN, RN, Vice President of Supply Chain Board & Clinical Operations.
With a vision of creating a more dynamic and interactive negotiation experience, the live bidding concept was the brainchild of the late Michael Berryhill. (He served as HealthTrust’s President of GPO Operations from 2013 to 2025.)
Selecting a category
HealthTrust relies on its members to assist in identifying contract categories to consider for a live bidding event. The organization targets categories where its clinical boards determine it is necessary for the GPO to contract as a multisource due to several factors (resiliency, install base, etc.). There are, however, health systems with the capability to standardize and commit further through a live event. “The voice of the member plays a critical role,” says Jennifer Westendorf, DNP, RN, CNOR, Assistant Vice President of Environmental Performance & Surgical Services. “Early on, our Sourcing team surveyed members from both the Surgical Advisory Board and the Supply Chain Board to get their input on what would be most impactful for them.”
Members of the Surgical Advisory Board connected directly with participating suppliers leading up to the event, and viewed their products live during August’s HealthTrust University Conference in San Antonio. Board members completed a clinical scorecard, which included criteria that the participating members agreed upon, such as safety features, device ergonomics, ease of use, universal compatibility, breadth and depth of product portfolio and overall performance. This initial clinical review ensured that all suppliers participating in the event had clinically acceptable products and portfolios that could support the members participating.
“We were able to leverage the live event to gain even more value for the entire HealthTrust membership.”
Junette Grant
Choosing the supplier
Members included in the recent live bidding event committed to purchase from the winning supplier over a fixed period of time. Given past supply shortages in the monopolar supplies category, the bidding process was rigorous. Members used a weighted scorecard to evaluate the bids, and suppliers had the opportunity to demonstrate their inventory readiness and the overall health of their supply chain.
After multiple in-person rounds of clinical and financial vetting, the participating members identified the “winning” supplier based on clinical, financial and supply chain resiliency factors. Post event, members said that they enjoyed connecting and collaborating with one another, and how positive the experience was. Westendorf shares that the organization is excited to host more of these events in the future.
Why members participate
HealthTrust’s live bidding events give members the opportunity to:
- Achieve additional savings beyond standard contracting
- Advance standardization goals
- Evaluate suppliers through a clinically driven, transparent process
- Strengthen collaboration with peer health systems
How a live bidding event works
- Members help identify the contract category
- Clinical boards vet suppliers using a standardized scorecard
- Suppliers participate in live competitive bidding
- Members commit to a winning supplier for a fixed term
Ready to participate in a future live bidding event or have a category for us to consider? Reach out to your HealthTrust Account Manager today or post it to the HealthTrust Huddle.
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