HealthTrust Performance Group™ (HealthTrust), a leading healthcare performance improvement organization, participated in the Spring IDN Summit and Reverse Expo, at Omni Orlando Resort at champions gate on April 20 – 22, 2026, where leaders explored how to close the gap between clinical practice and sourcing strategy to help improve patient outcomes.
At the event, Jennel Lengle, VP Clinical Operations and Supply Chain Board, HealthTrust, moderated a panel discussion featuring health system leaders: Jay Kirkpatrick, Vice President, Supply Chain Operations at LifePoint Health®, Cairo Wasfy, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Orlando Health® and John Black, Chief Supply Chain Officer at CoxHealth®. The session focused on how suppliers and providers can work together to better align contracting strategies with real-world clinical and operational needs.
“Strong supplier relationships go beyond price—they require alignment on clinical outcomes, operational feasibility and long-term value,” said Jennel Lengle, VP Clinical Operations and Supply Chain Board, HealthTrust. “By engaging clinicians early and focusing on how contracts translate into practice, we can help to ensure solutions truly meet the needs of providers and patients.”
Clinician-Led Sourcing Shifts Decision-Making to Value
A key theme of the discussion emphasized a clear shift from price-first sourcing to clinician-led, value-based decision-making. Panelists explained that by involving physicians and frontline teams in defining evaluation criteria and participating in product selection, health systems are seeing higher adoption rates, greater standardization and stronger alignment with patient care goals.
Balancing Standardization with Clinical Autonomy
As health systems work to reduce variation, panelists acknowledged the importance of building trust with clinicians and aligning around shared goals rather than enforcing restrictions. Early engagement in data review, service line collaboration and clear communication of organization priorities are critical to success. Suppliers play an important role in supporting clinicians with evidence, education and product trials.
From Transactional Vendors to Strategic Collaborations
Panelists defined strategic collaborations as those that go beyond product delivery to share responsibility for outcomes, proactively identify opportunities and bring forward insights that improve performance. Key differentiators include transparency and being proactive to identify opportunities early. Panelists shared specific tools and practices used for inventory management and oversight including predictive analytics, right-sizing supplies, high cost and high impact identification, utilization patterns and bulk pre-buying.
Moving Metrics Beyond Price
As suppliers set performance metrics, panelists encouraged them to align their value propositions to clinical outcomes, cost reduction, issue avoidance and operational benefits.
Looking Ahead: The Next Generation of Supplier Capabilities
As supply chain and clinical integration evolves, panelists expect suppliers to bring enhanced capabilities in technology, data integration, inventory management and innovation. Future agreements will require deeper alignment, greater transparency and a stronger understanding of provider operational goals.
Panelists emphasized a critical takeaway for suppliers is to engage supply chain leaders early in the process to accelerate decision-making and increase value, while strengthening alignment across the organization.
“HealthTrust’s member-driven, operator-led model brings together clinical, supply chain and financial leaders to guide sourcing decisions,” explains Lengle. “Through advisory boards and member governance, HealthTrust seeks to ensure contracts are clinically appropriate, operationally feasible and aligned with real-world practice.”
A Unified View on IDN Supply Chain Transformation—from the Clinical Front Line to the GPO Lens
Aashish Shah, M.D, J.D., CMO & SVP, HealthTrust Performance Group joined an executive panel featuring leaders from national group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to explore the most pressing challenges facing IDN’s today. Speakers shared real-world perspectives on digital transformation and AI, shifting regulatory and policy pressures, and ongoing margin compression. Attendees learned how top-performing health systems are navigating disruption, leveraging emerging technologies and applying proven strategies to protect margins with a focus on where IDNs can gain a competitive advantage.
HealthTrust’s participation in the Spring IDN Summit reflects its ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration between suppliers and providers to address industry challenges and advance care delivery.
For more information about HealthTrust, visit HealthTrust Performance Group.
About HealthTrust Performance Group
HealthTrust Performance Group™ (HealthTrust) is a leading healthcare performance improvement organization owned and operated by health systems. HealthTrust is dedicated to strengthening provider performance and clinical excellence through an aligned membership model and business advisory solutions that leverage expertise, scale and innovation. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., HealthTrust supports approximately 1,900 hospitals and health systems in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and more than 90,000 non‑acute sites of care, including ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices, long-term care and alternate care sites. HealthTrust has been recognized as a Top Workplace in Middle Tennessee for four consecutive years.
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