Vendor Consignment Storage

[splovesbp]

[FONT="Book Antiqua"]At this facility we have an issue with Vendors removing consigned sets in a timely manner. Sometime the sets sit for weeks before pick up. Space to store these sets is very limited.
I would like to know if anyone is having the same issue and may have a policy for consignment storage they would like to share.
Thanks in advance for your time.
Audrey

[edbaker]

It is a matter of having a heart to heart talk with the offending vendors and stating the reprecautions of non-compliance. The vendors need to understand that you are the customer and that they have brought a product into your house and you are the final say on guidlelines for pick ups. Developing your policy is a joint venture with Materials Management and your facility Legal Department, all involved departments can write the guidelines and expectations for vendor compliance. State very clearly each step in your policy (from drop off to pick up) what will be done with consignments when they are at your facility. Be very clear that if the consignments are not picked up in a 24 to 48 hour period after the end of a procedure that they will be sent to the dock and will remain there until each verndor decides to pick them up. Also be very clear in your policy that your facility will not be responsible for lost instrumentation if they are sent to the dock after the initial 24 to 48 hour pick up time deadline. Get your Hospital's legal department involved in the documentation and when the paperwork is finalized, send a copy to all vendors for compliancy. There needs to be backing from all involved departments in your facility to get the vendors to understand that your facility is very serious in regards to loaner/consigned instrumentation.