Improving levels of service through enhanced distribution techniques at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

In an effort to reduce cost and improve service, Materiels Management Distribution Services, in cooperation with a prime vendor, created a distribution method unique to the needs of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. The project combined the vendor's expertise and ability to "deliver direct" to an internal hospital location by product group with the distribution staff's ability to complete the process and deliver the merchandise to the final destination in an expedited manner. This article provides a contract template that can be adapted for other collaborative efforts and highlights the components of a successful program: electronic data interchange, verification of usage and par, reconfiguration of space, direct pallet delivery, and some basic indicators of success.