Understanding POU Supplier Systems

This section discusses:

  • General assumptions about POU supplier systems.

  • Definition of items and par locations.

  • Chunking Rules for streamlining POU supplier integration processes.

  • POU suppliers as par locations in PeopleSoft Inventory.

  • Returns to vendors (RTVs) for POU supplier items.

You can integrate PeopleSoft Inventory par location functionality with POU supplier systems. This integration consists of generic EIPs, using service operations in PeopleSoft Integration Broker to exchange applicable par location, item counts, and expected receipt information between the PeopleSoft system and the POU supplier.

This topic describes the implementation of a full integration between POU medical supply dispensing cabinets and PeopleSoft. The use of POU supplier systems for issuing medical supplies is prevalent in today's typical hospital environment. POU supplier systems maintain available stores of medical supplies for the immediate and ad hoc needs of a hospital's surgical, nursing, and distribution staff during normal operations. A POU supplier system maintains on-hand quantities at all times and records patient usage as it occurs.

A POU supplier system can be a complete standalone system, but it is usually integrated with a hospital's materials management information system (MMIS), such as PeopleSoft Inventory and PeopleSoft Purchasing. Integrating a POU supplier system with an MMIS can help a health care organization achieve maximum benefit from its investments on both fronts.

In this integration scenario, the PeopleSoft system is responsible for:

  • Defining and maintaining the par location and item information.

  • Issuing stock from inventory to the par locations.

  • Performing the receipt of purchased goods.

  • Replenishing the materials to the par locations.

The POU supplier systems are responsible for:

  • Keeping track of the stock on hand in the POU locations.

  • Capturing the use of the medical supplies issued.

    That use can in turn be charged directly to a specific patient's account. If the charges are made directly to patient accounts, the POU supplier system is also usually integrated with the hospital's patient accounting or clinical systems.