In an earlier column in this space, I described the Competitive
Dialogue as a form of innovation procurement that allows hospitals
to generate more value from their procurements. The Competitive
Dialogue's procedure allows a hospital to hold separate but
contemporaneous negotiations with several qualified parties. The
hospital and each participant collaborate in real time to devise a
solution that truly meets the needs of the hospital. Perhaps best
of all, the Dialogue typically results in a much lower price
tag.
The Dialogue, which is supported by the Ontario Centers of
Excellence (OCE) within the context of its REACH (Resources for
Evaluating, Adopting and Capitalizing on Innovative Healthcare
Technology) program, brings something new and positive to the
procurement landscape. REACH funding enables procurements that
might otherwise never happen, and the Dialogue techniques help to
extract more value from procurements. No wonder those who come to
know the Dialogue
