Lori Pilla, vice president of Amerinet Clinical Advantage and Supply Chain Optimization, discusses potential cost savings in supply chain management and where the relationship between providers and device companies is headed in the future.

Negotiating supply costs with vendors can be a frustrating experience for surgery center administrators, but knowing how to negotiate, when to negotiate and when to walk away can make the interaction better — and help a center save money.

When looking to boost the bottom line of an ambulatory surgery center, many administrators look at the supply chain. One of the easiest and most effective ways to save money on supplies is by joining a group purchasing organization. GPOs leverage collective buying power to negotiate lower prices with vendors.