Managing in uncertain times

Radical change, often referred to as a paradigm shift, will occur in the wake of the United States healthcare reform effort currently underway. It will be value-based, community-oriented and patient- and family-centered. These changes will pose great challenges for materiel management. The future will call for integrated healthcare delivery networks that will see hospitals lose their preeminence as providers and, subsequently, needed revenues. Strategies such as implementation of total quality management, and vendor and community partnering will become more pronounced. Materiel managers will see their role change to one of information gathering and disseminating. All healthcare managers will need new skills to help shape the future of healthcare delivery, including the ability to challenge assumptions, understand that there are alternative realities, anticipate business trends, and create and implement a vision of the future of their organization.