University of Maryland Medical System implements Gallion software to improve supply chain efficiency

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) has implemented a new digital tool, Gallion, to overhaul its bill-only supply chain management. 

It improves accuracy, transparency, and compliance for high-cost procedures such as knee, hip, and spine surgical implants. Developed by UMMS’s iHarbor Innovation Center, Gallion automates previously manual processes, delivering more streamlined and efficient operations across UMMS’s 11 hospitals.

The cloud-based platform integrates with existing electronic medical records and enterprise resource planning systems. It has significantly reduced the time required to complete bill-only transactions by 75%, while also lowering the defect rate from 18% to just 3%, according to data from UMMS.

“The efficiency gains and cost savings we’ve achieved with Gallion are remarkable,” said Pat Vizzard, Vice President of Supply Chain Management for UMMS.

 “Gallion has enabled tremendous collaboration among our clinical and administrative staff and supplier vendor representatives. It has enhanced transparency and contract compliance throughout our bill-only workflow from the operating room to the purchase order. We have captured millions in savings and improved our contract negotiations through Gallion’s robust reporting and analytics capabilities.”

Addressing long-standing challenges

Before the introduction of Gallion in 2021, UMMS relied on a paper-based system that was time-consuming and prone to errors. The implementation of Gallion aimed to address inefficiencies and standardise the supply chain process for high-cost surgical implants.

Kate Christner, Director of Business Operations, Perioperative Services at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, an UMMS hospital, pointed out how Gallion has reduced administrative burdens and improved charge capture:

 “Gallion has transformed our supply chain operations and reduced the administrative burden on our clinical staff to better align them with patient care. We have reduced billing conflicts to 3%, increased our charge capture three-fold, and we validate and approve 95% of our bill sheets within two hours of submission.”

Gallion is one of the key solutions developed by iHarbor, UMMS’s innovation hub. The centre was established to address common operational challenges in healthcare through digital transformation. It brings together software engineers, clinicians, digital strategists, and administrative stakeholders to create products that enhance care delivery and business operations.

Warren D’Souza, PhD, MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at UMMS, explained the driving force behind Gallion’s creation: 

“We developed Gallion to disrupt the manual bill-only process and improve upon existing market solutions. Our goal was to create a seamless, standard workflow that enhances cost insight and vendor price knowledge.”

Gallion’s success at UMMS is now paving the way for broader adoption. iHarbor has started marketing the solution to other healthcare providers, with the goal of helping more institutions realise similar benefits in supply chain efficiency and cost savings.

“Our position as a large health system allows us to understand the day-to-day challenges faced by healthcare providers,” said D’Souza. “Our solutions are built by a health system for health systems, with a focus on workflows, user experience, and care delivery.”