Episode 1 - Welcome to the Podcast

Welcome to the Data Slayer Podcast. Meet the hosts - Jennifer Doty, Anne Marie Orlando, Sarah Hobbs, and Keaghan Smith - as they introduce themselves and Blue.Point. 

Data Slayer Podcast

Through this podcast, our subject matter experts will cover in-depth conversations on healthcare data, clinical research, industry trends, real-world stories, and more. 

Blue.Point provides health systems with a specialized data analysis platform designed to optimize clinical product utilization. Our technology identifies savings opportunities and delivers non-bias insights on product best practices, standardization, and utilization-driven impact across hospital systems.

Interested in learning more? Visit www.bluepointscs.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:04

Hello everyone and welcome to the Data Slayer podcast. This is where Insight Meets Impact brought to you from the team at Blue Point Supply Chain Solutions. So this is our first episode. So today we're going to start with some introductions of some of our team members, as well as introduction to Blue Point itself. So I'll start with myself. I'm Jennifer Dodey. My role at Blue Point is a senior business development specialist. And on the podcast, I am your host. My role will be to kind of guide the conversations, make sure all our questions get answered and that we stay on point. Next, I'll turn it over to Anne-Marie to introduce herself.

SPEAKER_00 0:46

Hi, I'm Anne-Marie Orlando. I am the VP of Clinical Services here at Blue Point Supply Chain Solutions, and I am a clinical subject matter expert. Okay, and Keegan.

SPEAKER_02 0:59

Hi, I'm Keegan Smith. I am a product manager and analyst with Blue Point Supply Chain Solution. And yeah, I'm the analytic subject expert. Perfect. And Sarah.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

Hi, I'm Sarah. I am the clinical program director here at Blue Point. And I am help alongside Anne Marie as the clinical subject matter expert.

SPEAKER_03 1:32

Awesome. Well, thank you guys for joining me today on this first episode. From time to time, we will have other team members join using on our subject of the day and other subject matter experts. And hopefully some guests will be joining us as well. So now that we're done with the WHO, before we get to what Blue Point is, let's first talk about why Blue Point even exists and the problems that it has solved. I think Anne-Marie or Sarah might have stories from their time working in facilities that needed some supply chain solutions.

SPEAKER_00 2:10

Yeah, I I think as a supply chain director, one of the biggest obstacles I had was space. That was not a clinical issue, but really, you know, a spatial issue in terms of stocking supplies. And walking into some of our supply rooms, there's only so much room in some hospitals, and you really need to streamline your options. But flipping that to the clinical perspective, uh, when you have a lot of choice within the within the product types that you have at your facility, there's a lot of potential for variation. And that means variation in the products that your nurses are choosing. That means variation in the products that the patients have access to or have applied to whatever uh whatever wound type that is, if we're talking wound care dressings. And that also means that there's variability in the outcomes in those patients. So how can you track that? And it's and it's really important to be able to understand how that all plays into patient care. Uh, when you have that type of um overuse or I I guess how do you how would I say that? When you have when you have that many options, I I guess is is what I'm trying to say. When you have that many options, you know, that we know that from a research perspective, that increases the types of uh outcomes and variability in the outcomes. So uh having a way to be able to not only streamline the options, but also have uh better outcomes and making sure that they align to the clinical practices, I think is the piece. It's not just about removing uh the items or not using the good items, right? And and going to the cheap items. I think that's what I heard a lot from my nurses was was saying, Oh, you're just making me use a cheaper item. And that's not the case. That's not what we want. But sometimes, yeah, you do. A band-aid's a band-aid, right? That is what you need at the end of the day. But sometimes, yeah, you need that more expensive dressing. You need that silver dressing. But how do I know when to use that silver dressing? And how do I know when to use maybe an alternative that's not as costly? And how can I make sure that my nurses, when they walk into the supply room to choose the dressing to dress their wounds for their patients, how can I help them make a better decision? Because if you think about how many decisions a nurse has to make just to even, you know, dress a wound. First, it's what kind of wound am I dealing with? They then they stare at a wall. What is the dressing that I need? What is the size of the dressing of what I need? Should I use silver? Should I use PHMB? Should I use honey? Right. And then do I need to cover it with a clear dressing? Should I, or does it already have an adhesive to it? So there's a lot of little decisions that these nurses have to make along the way. And how can we better um provide them with a more streamlined experience and also the patient a better experience and a better outcome?

SPEAKER_03 5:38

Right. Because then overall it would also, we don't want the nurses thinking about having to save the facility money in those situations either.

SPEAKER_00 5:46

Oh, yeah, no, that is one thing never that is the least thing that's in their the back of their mind when they're taking care of the patients is you know, what is the cost of this dressing, right? Or what is the cost of uh, you know, that that patient, uh, that patient's care. Uh, that's always the last thing that we're thinking about, just making sure we have what we need.

SPEAKER_03 6:10

Right. And so having, you know, less options makes that as well from those who are not necessarily, you know, involved with that patient still being able to, you know, um have the overall goal of saving money.

SPEAKER_00 6:26

So if you're doing the right thing, I think the savings comes naturally, right? Right. Because that's what I was trying to get to. You know, because you have the right product, right? We always in supply chain, right? We always talk about uh the right product for the right patient at the right time. But the it, you know, we we need to consider, especially in a value analysis perspective, and when we're looking at everything from a uh basically a 360, you want to also take into account the outcomes of that patient. And um, you know, sometimes it's maybe a little bit more on the outset for the product means a better outcome on the backside for the patient, uh, but it's all grounded in you know clinical evidence and uh making sure that you know we're not overusing products, underusing products, um, things like that. And how can we address that in a in a hospital setting, right? That's I think that's one of the hardest things uh from a supply chain perspective or value analysis perspective.

SPEAKER_03 7:42

Yeah, absolutely. Sarah, do you have any insights?

SPEAKER_01 7:48

Well, you know, as Anne-Marie was talking, I started thinking about um you know, I've been a nurse for 20 years, and I think about when I was a brand new nurse and what did I, what were those decisions um that I needed to make? And I came from a critical care area. So in the moment, in the heat of the moment, you have to make those decisions really fast. Um, and so if there's a ton of choices, how do I know which one to pick? And I think coming from a new nurse perspective, you don't. And so you need to have those um that clinical insight that might help um with those decisions on the supply chain side. And so that's where I think that value analysis um marries that, because then you have that clinical insight with the supply chain that is working together and helping um decide which one is best and what are the best outcomes because say central lines, like you need a central line. Well, do I get a single port? Do I get a dual lumen? Do I get a triple lumen? I don't know. Does it need a is it a custom kit? Does it need um dressings with it? Things just like what Anne-Marie was saying with the honey and whatnot in a wound care. You think about those things very quickly, but if you don't have it standardized and in an easy place for the nurse to think in making those decisions what to do, that's where you kind of in diagonalysis, that's kind of where you kind of run into trouble because you have too many choices and your outcomes are not going to be the same. Um, because what if that patient needed a triple lumen and I grabbed the single lumen and I didn't know? And or vice versa. Like if they only needed the single lumen and now I'm exposing them more to infection because I gave them a triple lumen. And as a new nurse, you don't think those ways those ways, but when you grow in nursing in the nursing profession, you learn to think that way, but then you go into the value analysis side and you apply that nursing knowledge to the value analysis piece to bring in the best products.

SPEAKER_03 10:01

Awesome. Thank you. All right, so now I think we should get to what is Blue Point then? How is Blue Point um helping in this situation? In these situations.

SPEAKER_00 10:13

I think for for me, uh when I was at the facility level, the thing I didn't have was what Keegan brings to the table and her team is data. Uh, because we can't make decisions in a vacuum. And I think that when you have the data, uh, you know, whether that's clinical data, that's usage data, that's cost data, uh, historical data, uh, and you're able to make those decisions so that that new nurse understands when they need to grab that single lumen or that triple lumen. Uh, and it also allows you to be able to have those uh that you know insight into the outcomes of the patient.

SPEAKER_02 10:59

I think there was it, like the ability to identify, you know, through the data that we were getting, that there was a need for that value analysis piece. So we were conceptualized and then kicked off in 2015, right? As uh Blue Point and Blue Point's focus was really how do we show members more than just the contract and cost savings? There is so much more out there in the clinical space. So, how do we support those nurses and the value analysis teams that we're starting to slowly form?

SPEAKER_00 11:43

Right. And and that's one thing that supply chain just historically has always looked at, right? Contract versus non-contract. And if you're standardized to let's say one vendor, then that's great. However, there's more to it than that. And and when you dive deeper to look at the clinical pieces of what they're using, you can look at those clinical product functionalities and those features to say, oh wow, we're overusing this feature, underusing this feature. And how can we better align to the evidence that's most current?

SPEAKER_03 12:22

And so in just general terms, um, how does Blue Point, how does our platform do that? Um, if we can get um like what data do we get from facilities, just an overview so kind of understand um what value Blue Point brings.

SPEAKER_02 12:42

So we get our PO uh purchase data and issuance data from our customers, and we are able to clinically categorize that. Um and what was the next question that you had?

SPEAKER_03 12:59

I'm sorry. Uh just so you know, and it might even come down to what actually makes Blue Point more unique than any other tools out there. Maybe that is the way to go to ask, you know, exactly because what we do, I mean, I guess the the data part of it and acquiring data and sifting through the data, but what then how is it then used beyond that so that you know, and I guess it might not even come down to who at the facilities are going to be using this information. I guess that's also important to say, you know, um who are the people who are actually going to be utilizing the tool.

SPEAKER_02 13:36

So kind of kind of I think what I've learned at being at Blue Point is what makes them stand out a little more is that we really do a good job of data visualization in telling the story along with providing the resources that we have tied to our references of like we suggest you do this to achieve these target savings and what we're seeing in your data. So we back that up. So we're giving you the whole story, and I think that's what sets us apart instead of just getting siloed into okay, here's your data, and here's where you could improve. It's like, well, here's where you could improve, and this is why we say you can improve this way, and we have that support to be like, we know that you know, time and people are limited, so we can be an extension of your team on top of that. So I think that's what makes Blue Point stand out when you're working with a value analysis company and a solution company. We really provide that whole support and story.

SPEAKER_03 15:12

Yeah, we have um a whole clinical reference library as well as like a project management tool baked right in.

SPEAKER_00 15:20

Yep, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:21

So that definitely is.

SPEAKER_00 15:22

I also think it's the unique way that we categorize, you know, uh the data. It's not just uh by the contract category, it's really looking at those clinical equivalents and how they're grouped together, how nurses would use them together, and um and combining that with the research that you know Keegan was mentioning in in the library that you mentioned. It's it's really important looking at it that way.

SPEAKER_03 15:52

Makes everything a lot more efficient.

unknown 15:54

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

I was thinking um a little bit on those same lines, but you know, it's kind of blending those deep analytics with that clinical insight um without um getting the cheaper product really, and because you're looking at those clinical equivalents, and we're actually turning that that data is actually turning those clinical insights into the action actionable items that the end users can um can look at, which drives that evidence-based decision and cuts the quality cost without cutting the quality.

SPEAKER_00 16:31

That's a great way to put it, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:33

Yeah, very nice.

SPEAKER_00 16:35

You know, years ago, value analysis, you know, the intention of that in-depth clinical piece was that value analysis, not all facilities had value analysis in place. They didn't have clinicians in supply chain. And I'm talking, you know, what, 13, 14 years ago, right? That was kind of new, uh, newer. And I think that was also a focus of what Blue Point was going to do was being bring that that clinical research into the supply chain departments, provide them some education so that they can have talking points to go to their clinicians that they did have contact with and have uh some discussions in you know, on those particular uh whatever category that they were looking at. Um, do we I I think I don't know, maybe, and then I think I don't know, I think it's an important part of how uh now, uh especially since 2020, people have come to realize how important value analysis is in their organizations. And so, and while their programs have gotten bigger, bandwidth has gotten smaller. And so people need a much easier way to be able to uh connect with the platform, understand their actionable items, and that's where our our support, I think the clinical support is uh also a unique piece. Just in general, our our model has changed from the Blue Point platform, you know, over the years because of that bandwidth getting smaller. You know, we used to be a more of a self-service where our facilities would be able to navigate the platform on their own, ex, you know, get the information that they needed to uh look at our categories and see where their opportunities are. But again, since 2020, we've we've noticed that shift towards they really do rely on the clinicians here at Blue Point. And you know, they we have some great conversations within our um, we have some great conversations with our customers uh where they're reaching out to us, not only on the Blue Point categories, but in other, in other topics, because um when they need some assistance in uh clinical research or they are interested in knowing what um others are doing and how others are approaching different um savings opportunities, different utilization opportunities, and uh different problems that they're encountering at their organizations.

SPEAKER_03 19:26

Yeah, that's another important piece, is that they're able to Blue Point and kind of point out their benchmark against other similar facilities and kind of give insight as well into how um they might need to improve.

SPEAKER_00 19:42

Right. Because I think one of the key parts is also when you are looking at what your organization does within a vacuum, you look great, right? Because you don't know what anybody else is doing. So you don't know if your uh the caraft that you're purchasing for$1.75 is really expensive versus what other people at other hospitals are doing uh until you notice, hey, wait, I am an outlier. Everybody else is using something for 75 cents. And so why am why is my facility uh spending so much more on this particular feature of a product uh when you know other 22,000 other beds in hospitals are getting a different product? You know, why why are we that different that we need to do that? So I I think there's a a lot to be said for being able to have some kind of insight. And you know, and if you're in a big system, you have a lot of opportunity to look within your own IDN to see what are best practices and what others are doing. But when you're in a smaller IDN, you don't have that luxury. Or if you are one of the few who are still standalone facilities in this in this day and age, you can't really call up somebody up the street, another hospital, and say, hey, what are you paying for this? What are you doing for this? Uh what how much are you, what's your utilization rate on silver foam dressings, right? And see where you fall. Uh, they're probably not gonna share that information with you. And so this allows you to do that in a blinded fashion.

SPEAKER_03 21:34

Who has the time to make those calls, right?

SPEAKER_00 21:36

Right. You're if you're calling, you're probably calling because you're saying, oh my gosh, I have a patient on the table and I'm out and I and I need this product. Do you happen to have one? Yeah. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 21:49

You know, I kind of think that that's pretty neat too, that how Blue Point can provide that without providing, like you have all the clinical data pieces. Between that and not necessarily the vendor, and not necessarily um what the contract or what however that goes, but you can provide that, we can provide that um by giving them that clean data without being biased, if that's what you want to say. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:20

Yes, because Blue Point is GPO agnostic and vendor agnostic. Like we're just looking at the data.

SPEAKER_00 22:26

Right. Yeah, they I had a f I had a system where uh they were using evacuated containers, and I think the action item was um the pricing, their average cost was$19, and everybody else in the database was at$9. And I'm thinking, what the heck are they doing? That it's$19. And it turns out that they were purchasing a completely sterile um evacuated container. And these are used in like paracentes, oracentes. But if you uh are familiar with the procedure, the outside of the container does not need to be sterile because you're typically handing them off and you're not in an OR, you're handing them to someone with, you know, you know, in a non-sterile, the inside has to be sterile, and uh, which is valid and uh clinically appropriate, but they were paying an extra$10 to have the entire bottle uh sterilized, and it was an easy$100,000 savings just because of that um, you know, that that oversight that they weren't aware of. Oh, I mean, everybody else in the database is using a you know a non-sterile on the outside. So it was kind of it was an interesting and easy win, but uh that's some of the things that our data can highlight. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:51

And um we have more of those like impact stories on our on our website. So if anyone's interested, that um we will have all the information for our social media and our uh website uh somewhere, depending on where you're listening or watching this um podcast. Um in the description, you'll have access to go ahead and and find us on the interwebs. So I think this is a wrap on episode one. I think that was a good introduction to the Blue Point team as well as Blue Point itself, um, which is uh if, as in summary, uh a data analytics platform that takes uh a data driven approach to clinical alignment, is you know, kind of one way to put it. So thanks for listening. Make sure to follow the show so you don't miss any of future episodes. We have some uh really interesting episode episodes and topics coming up. And remember, best practice doesn't have to cost more when you slay data with Blue Point. So thank you until next time.

SPEAKER_00 24:56

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 24:59

Bye. Note to self, I'm putting Reba in her crate next episode. Did you see her popping this? I was like out.

SPEAKER_00 25:15

Honestly, I think that's hilarious.

SPEAKER_02 25:20

She's like whining, she got her foot stuck in her sweater, and then I was like, like trying to like nonchalantly like snap my fingers to get a paper. Yeah. Oh my god the entire time. I was like, girl, come on.