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Department Spotlight: Materials Management
Our dedicated, hardworking Materials Management team works with every department across our organization- purchasing materials, supplies, and equipment for our hospital and clinics. All items are stored in the storeroom, where they are alphabetized and identified numerically on shelves, making the items easily accessible. When receiving items arrive, our Materials Management team distributes the items to where they need to go.
“We have about 23,000 items in our dictionary, and work with around 25 primary vendors and a few large vendors,” stated Upson Regional’s Materials Management Director, Kirk Edens.“We work non-stop from the time we get here until the time we leave. There is always something to do even if nothing is coming in, like paperwork for example,” stated Tim Connor, Distribution Technician.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought a huge challenge to this team.“So far during the pandemic, it has been extremely difficult getting items. We have been on allotment with our vendors, seen increased volume/ pricing, and as far as shipping goes, everything has been off schedule,” said Assistant Director of Materials Management, Sonya Weeks.“Now that schools have started back and businesses have opened back up, demand capabilities are rising. We are seeing a huge shortage with gloves,” added Edens.
Even though this year has been tough, our Materials Management team rises to the challenge. They continue to make sure our hospital and clinics have the items needed to take care of our patients. “Everything we do affects the organization as a whole,” said Weeks.“If we are out of an item, we do whatever we can to get it. Even if it means going to another hospital to pick it up, or finding a replacement,” she added.
We are extremely grateful for this team and all that they do, not only during the pandemic, but every single day.
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