Caresfield is excited to attend Premier Breakthroughs 22 June 21-23, at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in Maryland. We recently spoke with Tanya Bowman, a Sr. Director on Premier’s Supply Chain team. We learned how Breakthroughs 22 changed from the last in-person event and what members can anticipate on-site. Bowman has been with Premier for over 14 years.
Why are opportunities for face-to-face communication at Breakthroughs important for Premier members and contracted suppliers?
This is a business built on relationships. While we have learned to be much more effective than we ever imagined in a virtual world, it really is the experiences and personal engagements that make healthcare procurement run.
I like to think of our tradeshow as an opportunity for our members to walk through our contract portfolio. It certainly can be overwhelming having over 2,000 contracts available to you. Roaming the exhibit hall is an excellent way to see, feel and touch products, talk to experts and learn how our suppliers have moved their strategies forward.
The other aspect of being a GPO member that plays out at the conference is both the formal and informal learnings from one another at play. Bringing our members together through collaborative groups around purchasing, quality and performance improvement is an enduring part of Premier’s DNA. Breakthroughs is an environment where members share their experiences and seek solutions to persisting challenges.
The concept of collaboration is conveyed in richer and fuller ways when you are face-to-face.
How has Breakthroughs changed since the last in-person event?
The most undeniable change since we were last together relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. Breakthroughs 22 attendees can expect a safe and respectful environment following the latest COVID protocols. We’ve also had a leadership change as Mike Alkire took the helm as president and CEO last year. This will be the first in-person conference for him to share his vision for where he’s leading Premier.
A lot of businesses have changed, even Caresfield’s name has changed. This is a great opportunity for a reintroduction on both ends of who we are now and more importantly who we plan to be in the future.
Have you seen significant changes in what members expect from relationships with Premier and suppliers?
Yes. In terms of our members’ expectations, there is a great drive for transparency and for being able to pivot quickly when the circumstances demand. There is also a greater commitment to making partnerships more tangible and not just casually using the word.
What aspects of Breakthroughs 22 are you most excited for?
I’m really looking forward to our networking event Wednesday evening. We hold it outside and we’ll be able to enjoy the fireworks nearby. We’ve hosted a similar reception in the past and it’s been a really great event. It proved to be a good time to connect with Premier staff, suppliers as well as other Premier members. Everyone’s hair is kind of down, it just feels different from being in the conference area.
How can members plan for a productive booth visits?
We really encourage our members to visit as many exhibitors as possible during the six hours offered over two days. This transitional year back to an in-person event particularly presents a great opportunity to get reacquainted and revive relationships. It’s also a spectacular environment for exploring and embarking on something new, too.
Connect with Caresfield
We hope to see you at Breakthroughs 22! You can visit us at booth 1325. Caresfield Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships Kacie Bemmels will be on hand to answer any questions. Book a meeting with Kacie online.
