March 17, 2020
To: Valued Supplier
From: UPMC | Supply Chain Management
Subject: UPMC Requesting Limiting Representative Access to Facilities – Notification to our Supplier Community Regarding COVID19
Dear Valued Supplier,
UPMC is taking considerable efforts to maintain efficient and safe operations and care for our staff, members and communities. Your commitment to the health and safety of UPMC’s care givers and the patients they serve is appreciated now more than ever. Representatives are strongly encouraged to limit accessing facilities for business appointments to those events that are essential to the delivery of patient care.
It is the expectation of our suppliers that you stay current with the information put forth on COVID-19.
Supplier representatives who are exhibiting symptoms of illness or are feeling unwell should NOT enter UPMC facilities for professional appointments.
Individuals returning from travel to, from or through impacted areas including but not limited to China, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, Japan, Spain or South Korea should refrain from conducting business in UPMC facilities for a minimum of 14 days after return from the area.
Representatives coming onsite are reminded to be diligent in hygienic practices including hand washing/sanitizing, to practice social distancing and to be sensitive to group size in limited space environments such as the OR’s and procedural areas, elevators and cafeterias.
Suppliers that subcontract are responsible for ensuring that instruction is provided to its subcontractors.
On behalf of our staff and patients, we thank you for your attention and collaboration during this unprecedented event.
Sincerely,
James A. Szilagy
UPMC Chief Supply Chain Officer
At UPMC, we realize that the relationships we forge with our supplier partners are key to our team’s agility, integrity and ability to meet our patients’ needs. We hope the information contained within this website provides you with the information you need as a supplier partner or potential partner with UPMC.
The policy of UPMC Supply Chain Management is to obtain the best value for purchased materials, goods, and services while maintaining the highest ethical standards in dealing with external companies. Value includes price, quality, and service. Supply Chain Management, acting on behalf of the UPMC Business, will:
Supply Chain Management employs the following processes to ensure these standards are achieved when dealing with existing and future business partners:
The UPMC Strategic Sourcing Process is a logical method of leveraging best-practice Supply Chain Management tools and techniques in order to continuously achieve the optimal combination of price, quality and service for purchased materials, goods and services. Imbedded within this process are initiatives such as the Supplier Diversity Program and UPMC’s commitment to Sustainability. The UPMC Strategic Sourcing Process is customer-driven, team-based, and dynamic in order to pertain to UPMC’s diverse portfolio of spend categories. The steps in the strategic sourcing process include:
The Value Analysis Program is the process by which we examine all new products for potential use within the UPMC Health System. This is done through a well defined, seven step process. The Value Analysis Program convenes clinicians with subject matter expertise, financial analysts, and those with purchasing expertise, in order to make the best-value product and service decisions, and creates efficiencies in every phase of product selection to achieve the ultimate goal of “right product at the best price.” Our Value Analysis Program employs an overarching committee that reviews the initiatives of the product committees. All new products and services must follow this process of review before they are approved for use within the health system. As a part of the SCM strategic plan, we have implemented the Value Analysis Program to our end user groups (Value Analysis Teams). At present, there are approximately 30 VAT groups, organized by specialty. These groups meet regularly to discuss products and services, and products are evaluated with the approval of, and under the direction of the Value Analysis Program.
Mission Statement
The Value Analysis Program, through the Value Analysis Steering Team and Specialty Sub-Committees (Value Analysis Teams) shall ensure the preservation and improvement of the quality of patient care while controlling costs and risks related to the purchase and use of products and services.
Vision Statement
The Value Analysis Program is responsible for directing a clinically focused and user driven, financially responsible product evaluation and selection process.
UPMC believes:
At UPMC, we realize that the relationships we forge with our supplier partners are key to our team’s agility, integrity and ability to meet our patients’ needs. We hope the following policies and information will lay the foundation for strong business relationships to develop and prosper between UPMC and our Supplier partners:
Vendor Access Practices to UPMC Facilities
ProTech Compliance is a technology and services company which provides the health care industry and vendors serving the industry, with simple, cost-effective, and reliable technology solutions for managing vendor-client relationships, including the credentialing and certification process, compliance standards, facility security, scheduling, tracking and reporting. For more details contact ProTech Compliance Customer Service at 1-877-710-STAT (7828) or via email to admin@protechcompliance.com
Conflicts of Interest and Interactions between Representatives
It is the policy of UPMC, jointly with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences (SOHS) that clinical decision-making, education, and research activities be free from influence created by improper financial relationships with, or gifts provided by, Industry. For purposes of this policy, “Industry” is defined as all pharmaceutical manufacturers, and biotechnology, medical device, and hospital equipment supply industry entities and their representatives. Learn more about this policy.
Vendor Responsibilities under the Deficit Reduction and False Claims Acts
In accordance with the federal Deficit Reduction Act, UPMC is required to inform vendors about the Federal False Claims Act. UPMC encourages its vendors to read and be familiar with the federal guidelines as they pertain to this important issue. The Deficit Reduction Act also requires UPMC to provide vendors with information about whistle blowing and non-retaliation. As part of its Reporting and Non-Retaliation policy, UPMC prohibits retaliation for reporting instances of wrongdoing, made in good faith. Suspected instances of wrongdoing may be reported through the Compliance Helpline. To help you understand your responsibilities as a vendor of UPMC, please review the excerpt of UPMC's False Claims policy.