GHX And Lawson Software Partner To Improve Purchasing Efficiency And Contract Compliance In Healthcare

Louisville, CO and ST. Paul, MN - GHX, LLC. and Lawson Software have entered into a new agreement that will provide Lawson healthcare customers with access during the procurement process to the healthcare industry's largest repository of data on products and contract pricing as provided by suppliers and group purchasing organizations. The agreement will enable Lawson's customers, which include eight of the top 10 integrated health networks and more than 500 healthcare organizations, to improve purchasing efficiency and contract compliance. With the partnership, customers can utilize Lawson's Procurement Punchout application to seamlessly access item information and contract prices, ensuring they're ordering the right product at the right price.

Lawson Software provides healthcare customers with deep supply chain management expertise, while GHX enables suppliers and providers to conduct business electronically and more efficiently with access and visibility to up-to-date and accurate data.

"Purchasing products on contract is critical if healthcare providers are going to ensure high quality care while controlling costs," said Keith Lohkamp, product strategist, supply chain management, Lawson Software. "This partnership will make it easier for our mutual customers to reduce the number of off-contract purchases by utilizing their standard requisitioning processes to access items not set up in their item master, helping to maximize the value of their purchasing contracts."

Using Lawson's innovative Procurement Punchout application to access GHX's Internet-enabled information repository, customers ensure contract compliance, minimize time spent on item file maintenance, and improve efficiencies by reducing or eliminating manual processes. Without integrated, accurate and contract-compliant data at the time of order entry, up to 40 percent of products purchased by hospi tals are not in their item master and/or not on contract. As a result, hospitals often pay much higher prices than necessary. These purchases can also create discrepancies that have to be manually resolved, resulting in increased labor costs. With Lawson and GHX, buyers have the information they need to order the right products at the right price and minimize costly and time-consuming errors.

The agreement expands a relationship between GHX and Lawson established in 2001, focused on helping healthcare organizations lower costs and improve efficiencies.

"Lawson's punchout procurement application allows hospitals to leverage their current technology investment and optimize their procurement processes," said Rammi Gill, general manager for GHX Financial Solutions. "By working with suppliers that represent the majority of products purchased by hospitals and all of the major group purchasing organizations, GHX further extends the value of the Lawson functionality by giving providers access to the most current and comprehensive product and pricing data."

SOURCE: GHX, LLC.