Materials management considerations in critical care areas

The materials management department has the potential to provide great value to the nursing department in the planning, relocation, and occupation of new patient care areas. Functional responsibilities in the materials area compels these personnel to evaluate issues such as contractor compliance; new products and equipment on the market; price trends; required lead times; traffic patterns inside the hospital; space requirements for clean, soiled, and hazardous materials; utilization patterns of supplies and equipment; and shifting demands on the time of the clinical staff.