Cone Health Implements symplr Access to Enhance Vendor Management & Patient Safety

Cone Health, a private, not-for-profit health system in North Carolina comprised of 13,000 employees, 1,800 physician partners, and 1,000 volunteers, required a robust vendor credentialing system to enhance patient, clinician, staff, and visitor safety while streamlining processes.

THE CHALLENGE

Cone Health had an urgent need to ensure their 800+ vendors entering a care facility met stringent health and safety standards. The existing process was cumbersome, making it difficult to track if vendors were compliant with necessary vaccinations, background checks, and other health and safety protocols. This posed a risk to patient safety and created bottlenecks for vendors and healthcare staff.

The organization sought a solution that would:

• Enable seamless compliance and credentialing support for vendors
• Facilitate swift and secure vendor access
• Improve patient safety and collaboration without causing delays
• Embrace sustainability by repurposing outdated equipment

THE SOLUTION

To tackle this pressing issue, Cone Health implemented symplr Access, which included 24 stations and towers that were strategically placed across seven hospitals and surgery centers to ensure compliance. The stations were easy to deploy, requiring only a small amount of real estate and no internet connection. Each is equipped with symplr badge scanners to streamline the entry process while ensuring each vendor meets all compliance requirements before being granted access. This includes being up to date on vaccinations, immunizations, background checks, bloodborne pathogen training, HIPAA compliance, and that they have all the necessary licenses to support Cone Health’s diverse needs. Furthermore, symplr Access integrates with their RepScrub solution, and each station features an innovative printer capable of producing 1,200 instant badge labels, further bolstering patient safety and facilitating better collaboration amongst staff and vendors.

“As we embark on this journey of heightened safety and collaboration, we extend our deepest gratitude to our partner, symplr, who has joined hands with us in this endeavor. Since implementing symplr Access, we feel more confident in our ability to enforce our compliance strategy, increasing compliant vendor check-ins, while reducing requests for exemptions.”

Lobel Lurie, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, CVAHP
Clinical Value Analysis Manager at Cone Health

THE RESULTS

Since integrating symplr Access, Cone Health has witnessed a significant transformation in its vendor management processes and overall safety protocols. The seamless check-in process allows vendors to experience hassle-free access by simply scanning their symplr badge at the stations, reducing entry delays and increasing efficiency. By ensuring vendor compliance in real-time, the hospitals greatly reduce the risk of non-compliant individuals compromising patient care.  

Furthermore, symplr Access has resulted in more streamlined communication between vendors and hospital program administrators – not only boosting vendor satisfaction levels, but also preventing potential delays in patient care. The simplicity of the credentialing process, paired with the ease of communication, underscores symplr Access's role in facilitating a secure and efficient environment, showcasing the transformative power of innovative vendor management solutions.