Streamlining the Medical Materiel Acquisition Process: A Preference for Nondevelopmental Items. Volume 2
Abstract
The medical industry continuously produces new and improved materiel for the delivery of health care. It continually evaluates clinicians' needs and treatment trends and moves rapidly to meet the demand for new products. The industry uses all available means - basic research, updating old items, combining old and new products and procedures in creative ways to define new products, and developing based on new technologies - to fill identified needs. Gaining a competitive advantage and the quest for profits drive a vigorous industry response. The Army Medical Department's (AMEDD) acquisition process is challenged to match the industry response to clinicians' needs and go even further. Materiel the AMEDD acquires must be affordable, reliable, transportable, maintainable, and credible over a range of environments. The medical acquisition process must meet this more robust challenge to be successful. In an earlier study, two critical first steps for doing so: First, centralize the process under a Deputy Surgeon General for Acquisition, DSG(A) and, second, improve requirements through better coordination of existing methods for identifying requirements. But these steps alone are not enough. The acquisition process needs to capitalize on a preference for nondevelopmental items (NDIs), i.e., those medical industry products that meet both clinical and nonclinical requirements. The AMEDD also needs to integrate the technological expertise found in its research activities into the NDI acquisition process. (TTL)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA228835
Entities
People
- George L. Slyman
- Gilbert L. Goldman
Organizations
- LMI