In procurement management, the quality attributes of the products used are of essential importance. For example, in 2008 HELIOS Kliniken Group sourced new safety syringes for blood collection and vein punctures where, after use, an irreversible guard is automatically fitted over the used syringe, excluding all risk of accidental injury and infection for staff and patients. Statutory regulations only require such safety syringes to be used where the risk of accidental injury from hypodermic needles is particularly high. HELIOS Kliniken Group, however, uses these syringes in all inpatient and working areas.
In 2008, there were further increases in energy and food prices. As a basis for its energy sourcing, HELIOS has created an energy benchmark database that provides transparency for all utilities (electricity, gas/heating oil, heat, water, and waste water) at all clinic locations. Variances in consumption and costs are promptly detected and directly acted upon. HELIOS monitors the price trends on the energy exchanges daily. Because pricing in the energy sector is not determined solely by the actual energy price itself but also by other components such as third-party access fees, HELIOS does not conclude framework agreements for energy supplies. In the second quarter of 2006, HELIOS purchased its electricity for 2007 and 2008. In comparison to what they were when HELIOS contracted, prices rose by over 30% on average. Thanks to the transparency created and to monitoring current price trends, HELIOS is able to take advantage of opportunities to buy energy at the best possible times. For this purpose, HELIOS uses the enPortal online platform with links to about 150 energy utilities in Germany. If HELIOS tags all 57 clinic locations on this platform as buyers of electricity, all potential suppliers can quote within a day for each location. While negotiations without the platform would take about 10 to 12 weeks to complete, HELIOS can conduct the bidding process and the placement of contracts within three to four days.
