Ideas That Work: Supply Shortage Leads to Significant Savings

The national company that supplied Lakeland (Fla.) Surgical & Diagnostic Center with food and drinks was experiencing shortages and found itself unable to provide the facility with crackers for patients, diet soda for surgeons and snacks for staff. 

Lakeland’s leaders decided to purchase a membership to Sam’s Club, a wholesale chain with a location nearby. They immediately saved about 20% on the cost of the food and drinks, so the annual $100 membership fee paid for itself. The facility now has the option of sending staff on short shopping trips to Sam’s Club or having their orders delivered by one of the store’s staff members. “It’s a huge cost savings for us,” says Lakeland’s Executive Director Nikki Williams, RN, CNOR. “An added bonus is that we get cash back on purchases, which will cover future membership costs and provides more money to buy even more supplies.” OSM