Hospice & Palliative Buyer's Guide - (Page 3)
Hiring a Vendor: Finding Your Perfect Fit
External experts and service providers can become invaluable partners in providing high quality care to patients and families. Before you leap into a relationship with a new partner, consider these helpful tips. 1. Be Clear About What You Need/Want. Outline your goals and objectives before you start shopping for a vendor. Whether you are looking for a new DME supplier or need to hire a leadership coach, it’s important for you and your team to be crystal clear about what you want before you start talking to vendors. That outline will serve as the template for your request for proposals (RFP) as well as help you evaluate the proposals you receive prior to selecting a vendor. Know Your Budget. Equally important as understanding your goals, it’s important to know what you can spend on the product or service you are purchasing. If the goal of your vendor selection process is to decrease your monthly supply costs, be sure you know how much you are spending now and have a target price in mind. Seek Opportunities to Meet Multiple Vendors. In-person and virtual conferences and product demonstrations are a great way to get a feel for your potential vendor. Visit their exhibit booth at the MLC, CTC or a state conference or participate in online demonstrations so you can see their “dog and pony show” before you add them to the list of potential vendors. Take the Time to Get Multiple Bids. While it might seem too time consuming, seeking bids from multiple organizations is a great way to explore all the possibilities to help you reach your goal. There are numerous template RFPs on the Internet that you can quickly adapt for your project. Don’t Assume that Cheaper (or More Expensive) Equals Better. Sometimes the axiom, “You get what you pay for” comes back to haunt organizations that select the least expensive bid for a project. Conversely, companies that promise more “bells and whistles” at a higher cost, won’t necessarily provide you with what you need to accomplish your goals. Ask for Recommendations. Any established business can provide you with a list of references willing to tell you how great the vendor is. Go beyond that list by asking your peers what their experiences are. One great place to do this is through NHPCO’s eGroups on My.NHPCO. Post a question such as “We’re evaluating the services of ABC Company and would love to hear any feedback from current customers.” This is a great way to garner positive and negative reviews that can round out your decision making process. (Please note, discussions regarding fees for services aren’t allowed on My.NHPCO due to antitrust regulations.) Date Before You Marry! Some vendors excel at the “dating” phase of a relationship, delivering above and beyond your expectations and then slack off once you’ve made a long-term commitment. Ask for a short-term agreement or an easy “out” of the agreement in the event the delivery or actual product or service doesn’t meet your expectations. Once You Decide to Marry, Ask for a Dowry! If you are prepared to sign a long-term commitment, ask the vendor how it can support your organization. If you are a non-profit, ask about potential charitable giving opportunities.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
H O S P I C E & PA L L I AT I V E C A R E : B U Y E R ’ S G U I D E
|
3
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospice & Palliative Buyer's Guide
Hospice & Palliative Buyer's Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction
Hiring a Vendor
Organizations by Categories
Administrative and Human Resources
Architecture/Interior Design
Consulting
Foundations
Health and Senior Services
Medical Equipment
National/International
Patient Support
Pharmaceutical
Publishing
Research and Education
Software
Other
Organizations Alphabetically
Publication Note
NHPCO Member Benefits
Hospice & Palliative Buyer's Guide
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nhpco/hospice_buyersguide
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com