In this episode of Smarter Sourcing, John speaks with Colette Crandall, Director of Procurement at One Medical, an Amazon subsidiary. Colette shares her inspiring journey to her current role, highlighting the importance of maintaining a human touch even as technology advances. She touches on the integration of AI in procurement processes, the thorough vetting required for new vendors to ensure data security, and the evolving landscape of healthcare technology.

Colette also offers unique insights into how her improvisational skills from a theater background have proven invaluable in contract negotiations and team management. This episode is a must-listen for those interested in the future of healthcare procurement and technology.

Topics discussed:

• The importance of maintaining personal interactions despite the increasing reliance on technology in healthcare.
• How AI is transforming procurement processes, making them more efficient and data-driven.
• The rigorous vetting process for new vendors, including extensive questionnaires to ensure data security and compliance.
• The unique ways One Medical integrates technology to improve patient care and streamline operations.
• Colette’s approach to managing her team, including regular meetings and fostering an environment of continuous learning.
• How the supply chain strategy pivots based on external factors, such as increasing order quantities in response to demand changes.
• The value of soft skills like communication and adaptability in a tech-driven world, especially for younger professionals.
• Colette’s vision for the future, focusing on the integration of new technologies and maintaining ethical standards in procurement.

Guest Quotes: 

“We’re seeing a lot more of the virtual and that’s the product that Amazon just launched with one medical where it is. You can go on the Amazon app and treat me now and get somebody online and get a doctor within, you know, 30 minutes or less, depending on what your symptoms are. And then Amazon will get a prescription out to you using the Amazon pharmacy. So it’s end-to-end care, and you don’t have to leave your house. It’s amazing.”

“And that, in previous jobs, I found to be challenging with some of my previous leadership, right? They didn’t fully understand, but yet they really wanted to question people or they didn’t want to get in the weeds and help. And you’ve got to be willing to just get in there and do it with people. And that builds trust and it builds respect with your team, and that’s incredibly important. And to me, that’s good leadership.”

“But it can never replace people because that relationship is everything in this industry, right? And that goes back to what we were talking about before, right? It’s, you’ve got to talk to everybody. You’ve got to get in the room, get on the zoom, whatever it is, because that is the most important way that business is done and will always continue to be done.”

“Because we deal with patient information and breaches of patient information have heavy, heavy fines. We have a very strict vetting process, and the questionnaires are 20 pages long. And the reports that we require these vendors to provide to us, and we partner with our IT security team, our compliance team, and our legal team, and obviously all of the folks over at Amazon. And the vetting process now for a vendor used to take a month, it now takes up to three months. That’s how thorough we are, and we have to be because patient information cannot be breached.”

Get in touch with Colette Crandall:  

LinkedIn

Website

Get in touch with your host, John Pavia: 

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