What is the function of the Director of Materials Management?

• A. To supervise dietary services.
• B. To manage patient transport.
• C. To manage procurement and distribution of medical and non-medical supplies.
• D. To handle public relations.

Answer: (C)

The function of the Director of Materials Management is to oversee the procurement, storage, and distribution of all supplies needed for patient care and hospital operations. This means acquiring medical supplies, equipment, and non‑medical items, managing vendors and contracts, keeping inventory at appropriate levels, and coordinating the receiving, warehousing, and internal distribution to various departments. The goal is to ensure clinicians have the right items at the right time while controlling costs and avoiding waste, so care is safe and uninterrupted. Other areas like dietary services, patient transport, and public relations fall under their own departments (nutrition/food service, transportation/logistics, and communications, respectively), not materials management.