From Manual to Automated: Hunt Regional’s OR Core Success with PAR Excellence

In healthcare supply chain management, achieving operational efficiency and accuracy is essential for delivering high-quality care. However, these objectives are often challenging due to the dynamic nature of the healthcare environment and the many external factors that impact it. Rising labor costs, staff shortages, and escalating supply expenses are just a few of the obstacles healthcare supply chain teams face daily.

Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville, Texas, has transformed its healthcare supply chain operations by implementing PAR Excellence’s automated technology in the OR Core over the past year. This initiative, led by Supply Chain Director Billy Robinson, has significantly enhanced inventory accuracy and operational efficiency, resulting in substantial savings in both supplies and labor.

Managing perpetual inventory had always been a challenge for Hunt Regional, particularly when relying on non-supply chain staff for support. Prior to implementing PAR Excellence, the hospital’s OR interface system lacked accurate inventory visibility, leading to frequent supply shortages and inefficiencies. Although the hospital had already seen positive results from using scales in general supply areas, convincing OR staff of the benefits of automation took time.

Recognizing the need for change in the OR Core, Hunt Regional switched to PAR Excellence’s weight-based solution. Since then, the hospital has experienced zero supply outages. Robinson commented, “I used to get a call from the OR every day with a problem. We haven’t had one since implementing the scales. It’s working really well – better than I anticipated.”

Before the new system, the hospital had to conduct daily manual counts of over 1,000 unique SKUs. PAR Excellence’s automated solution eliminated this labor-intensive process, providing real-time inventory tracking and automated replenishment. During the IV fluid shortage in September 2024, the scales delivered accurate daily reports, which were critical for managing supply levels effectively. Robinson emphasized, “The real-time visibility into our inventory is crucial. It’s essential to our role, and doing it well makes all the difference.”

OR Core, Hunt Regional Medical Center

The weight-based solution also led to significant cost savings. In the OR Core alone, inventory reductions totaled nearly one million dollars, with $60,000 saved on sutures. Additionally, the hospital saw fewer expired products and no longer needed to place rush orders, which eliminated costly overnight fees.

“We could never rely on the accuracy of manual inventory counts, so we always had to overstock as a cushion. Now, with PAR’s reporting and analytics, I can see exactly what’s being used and adjust our par levels accordingly.”

– Billy Robinson

The new system has been well received by clinical staff, who appreciate having supplies readily available. Nurses spend less time managing inventory, allowing them to focus on patient care, while supply chain teams can concentrate on more strategic tasks instead of performing manual counts. Robinson likened PAR Excellence to “a robot that does a full inventory of my hospital every 10 minutes.” He added, “Now I can focus on critical patients and urgent tasks—and I can say that with confidence because of the scales.” In fact, the scales have saved significant time in the ER, reducing restocking time by two hours a day.

Robinson advises other hospitals considering automation to start small, focusing on areas that present the greatest challenges. “Begin with a small area that’s causing issues. Fix it, streamline the process, and achieve a win. The success will spread through word of mouth to other departments.”

Hunt Regional’s success with PAR Excellence’s automated inventory management system underscores the potential of this technology to enhance healthcare operations, improve patient care, and achieve greater efficiency. Robinson concluded, “What I initially hoped PAR Excellence would do for us has far exceeded my expectations. It’s been a rewarding journey, and we’re excited for what’s next!”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]