9. Recently, Community Hospital of Bakerstown has decided to form a buying committee comprising administrators and physicians. The physicians represent the major service lines within the organization. The administrators are the vice president of nursing services, the director of operations, and the chief financial officer. A member of the board also serves on the hospital budget and capital committees, and a representative board member sits on each major hospital committee. The head of orthopedics at the previous evening meeting has recommended that the hospital purchase a particular joint-replacement device made by Stryker. The orthopedic department has actually used several different devices. Over the past year, the hospital has asked the department to pare down the number of alternatives when possible. At the meeting, the surgeon was asked if this was the recommended supplier by the department.

“No,” he answered. “I have used a Stryker device for years and they are reliable and really the best.”

a. What role does this physician play in the buying committee process?

b. What has occurred in this scenario?