Upon completion of this chapter, the reader should be able to:

17.1 Identify the complexities a manager may encounter when purchasing in the health care industry.

17.2 Compare the health care supply chain with the traditional industrial supply chain.

17.3 Identify the various supply management methods in the health care field.

17.4 Explain how inventory control is accomplished in the health care field.

17.5 Identify the current trends in health care purchasing.

17.6 Illustrate the capital equipment acquisition process.

17.7 Show how various health care plans are evaluated.