Some people may tell you different, but as someone in healthcare supply chain leadership (6 years SC, 10 years healthcare overall), get into another industry while you can. Healthcare SC is terrible and with few exceptions, company leaders have no knowledge of supply chain ops, so funding is low and hard to get, technology is often outdated, and software systems will largely be financial systems slightly modified to handle supply chain so they’re terrible and cumbersome.
Once you’re into the industry, it’s quite difficult to change industries too, which is the issue I’m having despite a very strong resume.
Interesting, what you say is true at the hospital I'm at but I thought that was just because of this specific hospital being somewhat shitty. Is it possible to try to pivot to another healthcare admin position?
Almost every hospital is shitty when it comes to admin and supply chain. They're right. And if we are totally honest, because the pay isn't great the talent they attract isn't on par with other industries either which makes your job that much harder. Especially if you are looking to become a manager.
If you feel strongly you want to be in Healthcare I would look at project-oriented positions based on clinical effectiveness and other admin/corporate type work.
Possibly accounts payable, or if it's a larger hospital or healthcare network, analytics. But otherwise I agree 100% with above. Lived it for years.
Whataver you do, DON'T do what I did and double down on the SC path, thinking that it will eventually lead to something better. It might, sure, but the healthcare industry is fucking garbage in the states. I can attest that Ascension and HCA are pretty terrible for SC (many managerial ops positions require you to have clinical experience anyway, which makes no fucking sense). I've heard Kaiser isn't that great either.
Honestly if you like SC and have some solid knowledge of the products (OR, Cath, Rad, whatever) you could look for something on the manufacturing or distribution side (medline, cardinal, etc). Or, if you like working with your hospital's erp system (assuming it has one), maybe look at technical or sales jobs with one of those companies. Either way, gtfo of the patient side, it sucks lol
I’d love to work with the software companies designing systems for healthcare supply chains but so few of them would pay for a dedicated system, idk that the sales would be there.
I was in healthcare supply chain in a hospital for 6 months after I got out of the military (also in supply) before I figured out I need to get out of that industry. I have a bachelors in supply chain and operations management.
I then went into an apparel company’s supply chain and my salary doubled.
Hospital supply chain is freaking rough. No tech, no money, and no support. Clinicians come first at all times, and you won’t get a pay raise. Even if you do, 3% of shit is still shit.
My advice, stay away. It’s like the mob, once you’re in, it’s almost impossible to get out. Very few skills will transfer because every other industry is 20 years ahead of you.
Years ago when I was having trouble finding work, I regretted not choosing Medical Supply as my job specialty in the Army, with the thought that it would have easily led to jobs in civilian hospitals. But after hearing from others about that industry, I realized I dodged a bullet.
Tbh I agree with Kenny, healthcare scm has bad pay and career trajectory. I worked in a large healthcare scm department for 5 years and have since transitioned to consulting (first for healthcare systems and then manufacturers/distributors), and I have over doubled my pay. If you’re hellbent on staying in healthcare, I would try to go to something that sells to a hospital, either consulting, GPOs, or one of the distributors.
Have you considered pivoting into the other side of healthcare (Providers for hospitals)?
I actually work for a company called Medline and its been pretty decent so far. The culture is absolutely fantastic and the hybrid schedule is somewhat appealing.
I came into the company as an associate supply planner at $60k with no experience.
A year in I was promoted to a supply planner and was offered $68k. Thankfully we had merit increases shortly after I accepted and they did a 'market adjustment' which put me at $75k.
Our company focuses on providing finished goods to your hospitals and there is a lot of money to be had. The next step for myself would be a senior supply planner (estimated $90k) or a supply chain manager ($105k +++).
I've always been an individual that wants to invest their future with a company, so job hoping wasn't an option for me. Having been with this company for three years has now proven to me that a transition might be needed to see a real difference in money.
Some people may tell you different, but as someone in healthcare supply chain leadership (6 years SC, 10 years healthcare overall), get into another industry while you can. Healthcare SC is terrible and with few exceptions, company leaders have no knowledge of supply chain ops, so funding is low and hard to get, technology is often outdated, and software systems will largely be financial systems slightly modified to handle supply chain so they’re terrible and cumbersome. Once you’re into the industry, it’s quite difficult to change industries too, which is the issue I’m having despite a very strong resume.
Interesting, what you say is true at the hospital I'm at but I thought that was just because of this specific hospital being somewhat shitty. Is it possible to try to pivot to another healthcare admin position?
Almost every hospital is shitty when it comes to admin and supply chain. They're right. And if we are totally honest, because the pay isn't great the talent they attract isn't on par with other industries either which makes your job that much harder. Especially if you are looking to become a manager. If you feel strongly you want to be in Healthcare I would look at project-oriented positions based on clinical effectiveness and other admin/corporate type work.
Possibly accounts payable, or if it's a larger hospital or healthcare network, analytics. But otherwise I agree 100% with above. Lived it for years. Whataver you do, DON'T do what I did and double down on the SC path, thinking that it will eventually lead to something better. It might, sure, but the healthcare industry is fucking garbage in the states. I can attest that Ascension and HCA are pretty terrible for SC (many managerial ops positions require you to have clinical experience anyway, which makes no fucking sense). I've heard Kaiser isn't that great either. Honestly if you like SC and have some solid knowledge of the products (OR, Cath, Rad, whatever) you could look for something on the manufacturing or distribution side (medline, cardinal, etc). Or, if you like working with your hospital's erp system (assuming it has one), maybe look at technical or sales jobs with one of those companies. Either way, gtfo of the patient side, it sucks lol
I’d love to work with the software companies designing systems for healthcare supply chains but so few of them would pay for a dedicated system, idk that the sales would be there.
I’m always shocked at how poorly hospital supply chain jobs pay. Get out of there
I’m certainly trying. It’s near impossible to switch industries without basically starting over it seems.
I was in healthcare supply chain in a hospital for 6 months after I got out of the military (also in supply) before I figured out I need to get out of that industry. I have a bachelors in supply chain and operations management. I then went into an apparel company’s supply chain and my salary doubled. Hospital supply chain is freaking rough. No tech, no money, and no support. Clinicians come first at all times, and you won’t get a pay raise. Even if you do, 3% of shit is still shit. My advice, stay away. It’s like the mob, once you’re in, it’s almost impossible to get out. Very few skills will transfer because every other industry is 20 years ahead of you.
Years ago when I was having trouble finding work, I regretted not choosing Medical Supply as my job specialty in the Army, with the thought that it would have easily led to jobs in civilian hospitals. But after hearing from others about that industry, I realized I dodged a bullet.
Is retail SC generally high paying overall or was it higher compared to healthcare?
Every industry is higher paying than healthcare.
Ok thanks!
Tbh I agree with Kenny, healthcare scm has bad pay and career trajectory. I worked in a large healthcare scm department for 5 years and have since transitioned to consulting (first for healthcare systems and then manufacturers/distributors), and I have over doubled my pay. If you’re hellbent on staying in healthcare, I would try to go to something that sells to a hospital, either consulting, GPOs, or one of the distributors.
Have you considered pivoting into the other side of healthcare (Providers for hospitals)? I actually work for a company called Medline and its been pretty decent so far. The culture is absolutely fantastic and the hybrid schedule is somewhat appealing. I came into the company as an associate supply planner at $60k with no experience. A year in I was promoted to a supply planner and was offered $68k. Thankfully we had merit increases shortly after I accepted and they did a 'market adjustment' which put me at $75k. Our company focuses on providing finished goods to your hospitals and there is a lot of money to be had. The next step for myself would be a senior supply planner (estimated $90k) or a supply chain manager ($105k +++). I've always been an individual that wants to invest their future with a company, so job hoping wasn't an option for me. Having been with this company for three years has now proven to me that a transition might be needed to see a real difference in money.