Collective buying power could save you 20 percent or more on supplies

Ever since the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Group Purchasing program, powered by Esurg Corporation, was rolled out at the 2007 Annual Meeting, AAOS members have been signing up and saving 20 percent or more on their medical/surgical, office, and pharmaceutical product needs. The program offers members the opportunity to benefit from the collective buying power of thousands of medical practices and save on purchases of medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, and office supplies. With more than 50,000 SKUs (stock-keeping units)—including 16,500 medical/surgical products, 3,200 pharmaceutical products, and 25,000 office products—you’re likely to find just what you need.

See the savings
To see how much your office would save, ask for a customized savings analysis. Go to www.aaos.org/esurg and click on “Free Customized Savings Analysis.” Fill it out and fax it in. It’s that simple.

According to Karyn Franco, registered medical assistant in the office of AAOS member James A. Britton, MD, “Esurg is great! The service has been outstanding, the Web site is easy to use, and they saved our practice considerable money.”

In addition to the low Esurg pricing, AAOS members receive an additional 2 percent discount relative to nonmembers. Savings will vary by practice, depending on your particular product mix and previous purchasing arrangements. Most participating practices, however, report saving 20 percent or more. Because the average orthopaedist typically spends nearly $40,000 per year on medical/surgical and pharmaceutical supplies alone, this can add up to a real improvement in your bottom line.

Easy registration and ordering
It’s easy to register—just go to www.esurg.com/aaos and click on “Register Now” (Fig. 1). Complete the brief application form and click the “submit” button. Confirmation takes approximately two business days; license verification is required because pharmaceuticals are included in the product choices. As soon as your registration is processed, you can view prices and place your first order.

Order by phone, fax, or—simplest of all—online. Esurg does not use commission-based sales representatives. A dedicated customer account executive, however, is only a phone call away to answer questions and resolve issues.

When you buy online, you can create new orders from scratch or use Esurg’s EZ order feature. EZ orders are customized with products that you purchase on a regular basis; you can save them under easily identifiable names, such as “Main Street Office Order,” “Dr. Smith’s Order,” or “Monthly Med/Surg Order” (Fig. 2). They’re easy to resubmit as is or to edit for other product types and quantities. Photographs are available for most items, and you’re informed, before you even submit your order, if a product is in stock or not.

“The Web site allows me to compare products and prices, and the EZ Order tool makes ordering easier and faster than with other companies,” says Ms. Franco. “My dedicated account manager helps me whenever I need assistance; he identified less expensive product options to save us even more money.”

No fees, prompt delivery
Typically, you’ll receive your order within 72 hours, and in many cases next day. Delivery is always free and the $15 handling charge is waived for any order that exceeds $150. Best of all, there are no up-front or annual fees, and no annual volume commitment to obtain discounts. In short, you’re under no obligations whatsoever.

The AAOS is proud to offer members this excellent resource and money-saving service. Esurg was selected after a rigorous evaluation process, during which it was able to demonstrate that it could meet all the Association’s stated requirements. Esurg has a proven track record of affiliating with medical organizations such as the American Urological Association (AUA), the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). As of June 4, 2007, Esurg became a division of Henry Schein, Incorporated (HSI), the largest distributor of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners in the combined North American and European markets.

For additional information on the AAOS Group Purchasing Program, powered by Esurg, call (877) 443-7874 or visit www.aaos.org/esurg or www.esurg.com/aaos.

Steven E. Fisher, MBA, is manager of the AAOS practice management group. He may be reached at (847) 384-4331 or sfisher@aaos.org.