Chris Luoma, senior vice president, global product management, GHX, offers a number of 2022 predictions regarding healthcare providers:

1. Providers will shift to electronic invoices and automated payment processes. "Healthcare providers are still relying on a manual payment process for managing invoices, printing checks, and addressing exceptions, delivery via the post office. By automating procure-to-pay, healthcare providers can eliminate manual processes, helping to reduce errors and save time and costs," Luoma shares. "This allows staff to spend their time on patient-focused activities. This automated payment process also gives a more transparent look into financials. This leads to better decision making based on accurate and current insight on cash flow and cash management."
2. Cloud-based ERP migrations will grow. "The pandemic has greatly accelerated the healthcare industry’s move to cloud-based ERP systems. The challenge in healthcare lies in turning data into insights through visibility and accessibility," he said. "Achieving optimal visibility requires a new data strategy that takes advantage of advances in cloud-based ERP to help ensure data is accurate, current, and can be easily integrated and normalized across the operational systems of a healthcare provider. Cloud-based ERP systems make it easier to see and manage information across financial, operational and clinical systems. This important data is needed to make critical business decisions that can save costs and improve care."
    
3. Predictive analytics will support strategic planning. "Predictive analytics turns data into actionable information. Making critical supply chain data easily accessible is a priority among healthcare providers," Luoma explains. "They are using this data to apply predictive analytics. This technology enables healthcare providers to pull historical data points and formulate potential outcomes. One prediction that is currently top-of-mind for healthcare providers is what the next potential supply shortage will be so they can take proactive steps to help avoid stockouts and delays. When applied to the healthcare supply chain, predictive analytics can help determine which products may be at risk and which alternatives are best suited to certain patient populations so providers can continue to deliver the best care at the most efficient cost."