Written by Lawton R. Burns and a panel of expert contributors, from the prestigious Wharton School, The Health Care Value Chain analyzes the key developments and future trends in the United States health care supply chain. Analyzes the United States' health care supply chain. This book offers an examination of how the health care supply chain helps create value and competitive advantage. It presents an examination of the trading relationships among the manufacturers of health care products, the distributors, the hospital customers and end users of those products. Preface ix Acknowledgments xi About the Author xv Part I: Value Chain Basics 1(56) The Wharton School Study of the Health Care Value Chain 3(24) Lawton R. Bums Robert A. DeGraaff Patricia M. Danzon John R. Kimberly William L. Kissick Mark V. Pauly Importance of the Health Care Value Chain 27(14) Lawton R. Bums Robert A. DeGraaff How the Health Care Value Chain Operates 41(16) Lawton R. Bums Part II. The Intermediaries 57(160) Role of Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) 59(68) Lawton R. Bums Role of Wholesalers and Distributors 127(56) Lawton R. Bums Robert A. DeGraaff Threats of Disintermediation Facing Distributors 183(34) Robert A. DeGraaff Lawton R. Bums Part III: The Manufacturers 217(78) Pharmaceutical Manufacturers 219(24) Lawton R. Bums Patricia M. Danzon Medical Device Manufacturers 243(22) Robert A. DeGraaff Mark V. Pauly Medical-Surgical Manufacturers 265(30) Lawton R. Bums Part IV: E-Commerce 295(122) E-Commerce in Health Care-Manufacturers, Distributors, and GPOs 297(76) Lawton R. Bums Robert A. DeGraaff E-Commerce and Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs) 373(44) Lawton R. Burns Part V: Conclusion 417(14) Conclusion 419(12) Lawton R. Burns John R. Kimberly Index 431