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Orlando, FL -- Collaboration became more than an industry buzz-word at the spring IDN Summit & Expo in Orlando. It was the centerpiece of the entire event. "By design, we wanted to put collaboration at the center of everything," said John Kelly, CEO of Healthcare Business Media which hosted the event. Breakout sessions, general sessions, the keynote speaker, and even the Reverse Expo were all structured to emphasize the importance of breaking down silos.

The renewed focus of the event was also effective, as there was a nearly 20 percent increase in registration compared to the Spring 2008 IDN Summit. "We were certainly pleased to see the increase in participation at this event," said Kelly. "A combination of factors contributed to the event's success, but certainly, showing how collaboration can work by featuring presenters who have made it work, adding CE hours for providers and a stronger sales and marketing track for suppliers, and increasing the number of breakout sessions made the event go from a nice idea to something very practical." he said.



This year, the IDN Summit & Expo featured the inaugural Search For Excellence Awards, to recognize collaborative initiatives that were effective in the realm of supply chain leadership. Four "Peer Awards" were given to Aurora Health Care, Covenant Health Systems, Sisters of Mercy Health System, and Texas Children's Hospital. The Summit of Excellence Award was won by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), based upon voting by their peers. UPMC was honored for the steps they took towards the goal of reducing healthcare cost by creating a "touch free" purchasing system for their end users. The Google-like system uses eMarketplace technology which allows over 7,000 end users in the UPMC system the flexibility to order directly from the supplier. The eMarketplace technology has the added benefits of reductions in errors and time of turnaround for delivery of most products. Forty percent of their nearly 350,000 purchasing transactions are now conducted entirely electronically. By going to the electronic ordering system UPMC has saved their system approximately four million dollars, based upon an average of $30 per transaction.

The eMarketplace technology was provided by Vinimaya, Inc., and has been used in companies like Alcoa, 3M, and Agilent. "Based upon some of the feedback we got from their peers, UPMC captured the highest votes because of their integration of technology that was successful in other industries, as well as the immediate cost savings," said Ed Hisscock of Appleseed Healthcare Resources, and chair of the Summit's Education Advisory Board, which provided oversight of the awards. "What impressed me the most about all of the award winners was the way they all managed to get the right people in the room to solve problems. In virtually every case, the hospital or healthcare system that entered the competition included physicians, nurses, pharmacists, administrators, and supply chain leaders. In every case, there were documented savings that came out of those discussions," Hisscock said.

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