Originally published by Taking the Supply Chain Pulse.

We speak with David Kirshner about why healthcare CFOs are facing intense margin pressure and how supply chain management has become a strategic tool for survival. The conversation explores procurement cost reductions in healthcare and how healthcare organizations can uncover savings beyond clinical supplies through better data, stronger contracting, and cross-department partnerships.

• Why health systems are shifting from thriving to barely surviving as margins tighten
• The importance of CFO sponsorship when expanding supply chain influence
• Defining non-clinical and indirect procurement across IT, facilities, energy, marketing, corporate services, and legal to improve margins for hospitals
• Using accounts payable and spend analytics to identify vendor sprawl and contract gaps
• The “$1 saved equals $20 earned” mindset and why expense optimization delivers fast results
• Raising vendor expectations through competitive sourcing and collaborative partnerships
• Using a supply chain maturity model to hospital procurement strategy move from good to great
• Mentoring the next generation of data-driven supply chain leaders