Inter-Agency Supply Exchange Program and Database
I work in the health services department in a Federal Prison. In our department, I see medical supplies that, for one reason or another, go unused and have to be disposed of. I'm sure the same is true in other departments in my facilty and throughout the Federal Gervernment as a whole. Yet, I believe that we may be able to drastically reduce this waste if facilities, departments, and agencies were better able to track ...more »
I work in the health services department in a Federal Prison. In our department, I see medical supplies that, for one reason or another, go unused and have to be disposed of. I'm sure the same is true in other departments in my facilty and throughout the Federal Gervernment as a whole. Yet, I believe that we may be able to drastically reduce this waste if facilities, departments, and agencies were better able to track the resources we have. I propose that we start a database that would track the supplies we already have, the supplies we order from private companies, these item's frequency of use, and the items that we are in need of. If a facility has an item in their posession that they have in excess and could afford to part with, this item could be shipped to another facility where it will be used. It is imperative however, that these items available for exchange be ones that the individual facility is voluntarily exchanging and that a department's budget not be penalized for having excessive items. If items are taken involuntarily or if budgets are cut due to excessive items, the databases will be inaccurate and items will be hoarded or hidden in fear of supply and budget shortages. If we can share our resources and become more streamline in our supply chain, we have the potential to save the taxpayer a significant amount of money.
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