Supply Chain Management practices for improving patient oriented care OUTLINE 1.

WHAT IS THE ASSIGNMENT To extend the discussion and develop an outline for a logical, scholarly argument in support of or against the topic mentioned above. 2. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS ASSIGNMENT

To analyse the article for the following scholarly argument: a. b. c. d. e. 3. Clarity and organisation of the argument Presentation of original ideas by author to readers Incorporation of outside evidence by author Use of citing, referencing, quoting and paraphrasing by the author. Peer review WHO IS THE INTENDED AUDIENCE

MSc International Management fellow students and student advisor 4. WHAT IS THE ASSIGNMENT THESIS STATEMENT Supply Chain Management practices can be used to resolve problems of patient treatment in the complexity of multiple health care providers. ESSAY Introduction The article, Supply chain management (SCM) practices for improving patient oriented care, in the Supply chain Management: An International Journal is a conceptual paper, discussing organisational problems that occur in situations that are complex because the treatment of patients requires input from multiple health care providers, and to argue conceptually how to resolve these problems using SCM practices(Meijboom Bert, et al, 2011, page 166). The thesis title of the article is broad as it could have been narrowed to zone in on the particular country, in this case Netherlands, where most case examples are carried. The narrower the thesis statement, the more effective argument is.(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/) It argues that in many western countries an ageing society has resulted in high costs of healthcare. But there is no supporting evidence stating the link between age and need for healthcare and costs. In Africa, the society is not ageing compared to the western world, but the healthcare costs are still astronomical.(JSI|Deliver, 2009) The issue of multi-disciplinary, vertical approach is the one that is causing increased costs in the west. As stated in the article an optimal fashion to deliver a patient driven care is to have integrated, demand based operations management. This allows a market driven efficient method of operating.

This argument is seen when the author presents the challenges with multiple providers and so the issue of age is not considered at the fore of the high costs and level of care. Organisational issues cited include communication, patient safety, waiting times and integration. Communication between multiple providers if not handled well definitely affects care to the patient and this was highlighted in the article. On the case of patient safety, regardless of whether multi-provider or integrated services patient safety is always key and in such cases specialised treatment is much better than a wholesome approach unlike as argued in the article (Wolff, J.A et al, 1995). In evaluation, the author states that there is no possibility to propose a definite SCM based framework, but conceptually a combination of SCM and cross functional and cross organisational teams, lead time controls and appropriate technology is a promising thought. The author cited 78 references, all in the Harvard style and also provided additional references for further reading so as to give the audience an extension of the argument as well as more insight into the article. REFERENCES Meijboom, Bert; Schmidt-Bakx, Saskia;Westert,Gert ; 2011, Supply Chain management practices for improving patient oriented healthcare,Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, Vol 16, pages 166-175 http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ (accesed 16 Jan 2012)

Wolff, J. A et al, 1995, Beyond the clinic walls: Case studies in community-based distribution, JSI|Deliver , 2009, Managing Drug Supply Handbook, Second edition