Surgery Inventory Coordinator

OhioHealth•Columbus, OH

About The Position

The Surgery Inventory Coordinator coordinates the daily flow of supplies, implants, and equipment for the Surgery Department. The role uses automated supply units, electronic handheld units, forecasting tools, and an ERP system to replenish and manage owned, consigned, loaner, and same-day-requested inventory. The Coordinator ensures procurement requests reflect clinical and cost requirements and that requested items arrive on time to meet customer and financial expectations. The position requires critical thinking to ensure supplies and services are available for planned and unplanned surgical needs and to support patient care. The Coordinator manages product and package integrity, expiration dates, recalls, returns, par levels, receipts, and inventory changes. They work with physicians, clinicians, vendors, Sterile Processing Department (SPD), Surgery, and Supply Chain to resolve backorders, substitutions, logistical failures, customer concerns, and other operational issues. The role also supports product and equipment trials, the implementation of approved products and technology, process improvements, and routine customer service. The employee must maintain a clean and safe work area and follow applicable information privacy and security policies.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
The posting lists 2 to 3 years of related healthcare experience as a minimum qualification.
The posting also lists 2 or more years of related experience under specialized knowledge.
The additional job description calls for 5 years of medical supply experience and 3 years of procurement and/or inventory experience; it also lists an alternative of an associate degree with 3 years of medical supply experience and 2 years of procurement or inventory experience.
Ability to perform basic math functions and use computers.
Ability to understand the financial impacts of supply chain functions.
Ability to work in a moderately paced, continually changing environment and under pressure.
Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills.
Critical thinking and analytical skills, ability to prioritize, flexibility, teamwork, and reliable follow-through and follow-up.
Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft suite of products; familiarity with spreadsheets, databases, word processing software, and organizational systems or applications such as Workday, Microsoft Teams, and EPIC.
Knowledge of inventory and financial systems, sourcing clinical and non-clinical services and supplies, inventory and receiving processes, accounting, contracting, and data integrity.
Supply chain knowledge, including procurement, inventory methodologies, and healthcare services and supplies terminology; broad understanding of a multi-hospital system.
Excellent customer service and problem-resolution skills; training skills.

Nice To Haves

Surgery supply or related experience is preferred.
Three or more years of related experience is listed as a desired attribute.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the flow and replenishment of owned, consigned, and loaner supplies, implants, and equipment to support the changing surgical caseload.
Use forecasting tools, handheld technology, and the ERP system to manage inventory, maintain established par levels, identify needed items, place orders, and identify received items.
Ensure procurement requests meet clinical and cost requirements and that new or replacement products arrive on time without interrupting supply availability.
Review product and package integrity and monitor expiration dates in the assigned area; verify recalls and return outdated, obsolete, and recalled products for credit.
Communicate supplier availability issues to appropriate staff and resolve backorders, substitutions, recalls, and logistical failures, keeping impacted teams updated through resolution.
Identify and engage stakeholders in resolving product issues and offer alternatives when supply interruptions occur.
Assist clinicians with product and equipment trials by coordinating with physicians, clinicians, and vendors and following acquisition protocols.
Assist with annual inventories when required and help implement, maintain, and organize cost-effective and efficient inventory systems.
Review match-exception issues to align proper receipt and payment obligations, and resolve routine and non-routine procurement and inventory conflicts.
Resolve customer complaints, concerns, and service failures while working to prevent operational problems affecting physicians, clinicians, or patients.
Maintain required or requested cart changes and coordinate planned and emergent inventory changes and replacements in a timely manner.
Provide consistent customer service and communicate verbally and in writing with physicians, clinicians, and Surgery staff to ensure products are in the right place.
Coordinate the logistical implementation of approved supply, implant, and equipment technology.
Follow up promptly and support system contracts and processes; work with Surgery and Supply Chain on process improvements to reduce cost or improve efficiency.
Maintain a clean and safe work area and follow department cleaning schedules and leadership direction.
Protect the confidentiality of login credentials and other authentication devices and safeguard information entrusted to the employee.
Use business assets and information resources only for management-approved purposes and follow information privacy and security policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines.
Promptly report information security incidents to the OhioHealth Information Security Officer.
Perform other duties as assigned.