Bethesda Health Group

Matthew Wisniewski

Matthew Wisniewski is a healthcare supply chain and procurement professional with more than a decade of experience across multi-facility systems. At Bethesda Health Group, he oversees the sourcing, procurement and management of supplies and services essential to its healthcare operations.

In an interview with Healthcare Business Review, Wisniewski shared his insights on building reliable supplier relationships, balancing cost efficiency and quality, navigating evolving industry trends and the role of technology in procurement practices.

A Career Shaped by Experience

I have worked with multiple multi-facility healthcare organizations, serving patients spanning newborns to seniors across all levels of care. My experience includes working with various inventory management systems, supporting diverse team sizes, managing unique service lines and partnering with leaders at every level of the organization.

I believe that clear communication, data-driven decision-making and strong partnerships are essential to simplifying the complexities we continually face.

Building Reliable Supplier Relationships

Confidence in a supplier’s ability to consistently meet production demands and maintain distributor stock levels is essential. While backorders may be unavoidable, they can be effectively managed through proactive planning and strong supplier partnerships. If a supplier is unable to meet an organization’s inventory needs, alternative options must be considered.

Suppliers that provide dedicated team members for training and ongoing support tend to have a stronger understanding of an organization’s needs. They can offer best practices for product use while also assisting with planning and product conversions. These intangible attributes are important in maintaining strong supplier relationships.

Distributors maintaining adequate inventory is as important as delivering supplies to the organizers. Any shortfall can lead to downstream delays in supplying products to facilities.

At Bethesda Health Group, we work closely with distributors to gain early visibility into potential supply disruptions. By monitoring expected inventory depletion and stock replenishment timelines, we identify gaps. Suppliers who provide this level of transparency and communication are highly valuable and help strengthen long-term partnerships.

Balancing Cost Efficiency and Quality

Rising costs across freight, raw materials and labor are posing a challenge in the industry. In response, manufacturers and distributors are focusing on enhancing operational efficiency while continuing to deliver consistent quality and service despite widespread cost pressures.

At Bethesda Health Group, we maximize the use of group purchasing organizations and standardize formulary across all sites to keep costs down. In addition, we collaborate with clinical teams to evaluate potential product conversion opportunities. This ensures the implementation of quality products that meet staff requirements while driving cost efficiency.

The Role of Technology in the Industry’s Evolution

Current trends require procurement practices to be more agile. Teams have to think creatively to address emerging challenges while maintaining strong processes and systems that support day-to-day operations and unexpected obstacles.

At the same time, technology, once considered a support tool, has become a primary driver of daily operations. Procurement and supply chain teams now have greater visibility than ever through data-driven insights and predictive analytics. Leveraging those opportunities while maintaining strong supplier relationships can have a positive impact on supply availability and cost control.

Continuous learning, both individually and across teams, strengthens the ability to use technology and process improvements to navigate ongoing challenges. Thinking ‘outside the box’ also creates opportunities to develop standardized processes that address emerging complexities.

Advice for Aspiring Procurement and Supply Chain Professionals

Establishing relationships within your organization is just as important as developing partnerships with suppliers, manufacturers and distributors.

Working in supply chain and procurement usually involves managing change as well as the supply and spend. To drive meaningful impact, it is essential to understand organizational needs while effectively operating within existing constraints.