Message from AHVAP President-Elect

Never Forget the Patient at the End

As we come together for our annual conference this month, it is important to pause and remember why value analysis exists in the first place: there is always a patient at the end of every decision we make.

There is a patient at the end of your approval process.
There is a patient at the end of the education your staff receives.
There is a patient at the end of the new technology you introduce to your facility.

I have recently been on the receiving end of what happens when that patient focus is lost. While my experience may seem minor compared to the serious medical challenges many patients face, it underscored something important: even small gaps in education, communication, or product use can leave a lasting impact on the patient. You see, my ring finger got into a fight with my bread knife and lost. My first episode of care had me receiving a product that would ultimately epithelialize and contribute to an infection. You see, I received the wrong product for my injury. Looking at the MAUDE database post- infection, I see this is not a rare occurrence with this product. My second episode of care, in which I received wound debridement, left me with a black and blue finger that was extremely tender all the way to the knuckle. This was due to the provider forgetting he was administering the medicine into tissue verses an IV push. Maybe he did know and chose not to care? I, again, received another product to cover the wound and control the bleeding. My third episode of care with a specialist, left me the most disturbed. Within 12 hours of my wound debridement, I had an appointment. This “specialist” walked in, asked me what happened, and within seconds and without warning, he ripped off the dressing that was applied at the ER and that was adhered to my wound. Without explanation, without warning. The specialist that was supposed to be the most experienced lost my trust in that instant. While my experience may seem minor compared to the serious medical challenges many patients face, it underscored something important: even small gaps in education, communication, or product use can leave a lasting impact on the patient.

My experience serves as a reminder of why our work matters. Value analysis is not just about contracts, savings, or process efficiency — it is about ensuring that the right product reaches the right patient, supported by the right education, grounded in evidence, and not driven by outdated protocols.

This is also why we gather, share, and learn at our annual conference. Every conversation, every session, and every best practice exchanged is ultimately about closing gaps in care and building stronger connections between supply chain, clinical teams, and patient outcomes. This year’s event is an opportunity to reconnect with our shared purpose, expand our knowledge, and strengthen our ability to deliver safe, effective, evidence-based solutions. I look forward to the discussions, the insights, and the energy that come when our community comes together.

As you participate in this year’s sessions and conversations, carry this mindset with you: what we do matters, because there is a patient at the end of it.

Sincerely,

Anne Marie Orlando, MBA, RN, RCIS, CVAHP™, FACHDM, PNAP, FAHVAP
President-Elect, Board of Directors
AHVAP