The healthcare industry has struggled over the last few years because of the world’s supply chain disruptions. Problems with essential medical supplies have been found due to the COVID-19 pandemic, disputes between countries and emergencies caused by natural disasters. The events of the last few years have emphasized how important it is for healthcare systems to maintain reliability in their supply chains to keep patients cared for without interruptions.
Enhancing Communication and Contingency Planning
Today, healthcare companies are communicating openly with suppliers and planning for different contingencies. For example, UC Health has increased its contact with primary suppliers and partners, which has made its supply chain more noticeable and stronger both globally and domestically. Adopting this method helps build strategies for dealing with the coming challenges brought by changes in the market. Extra work resources are provided to supply backorder and substitute teams, ensuring the company can react quickly to supply issues.
Implementing Control Tower Models
Intermountain Health has switched to a “Control Tower” system to manage inventory and make organizational decisions from one location. This strategy allows enterprises to see all their inventory. Which helps them distribute their supplies to reduce disruptions in different parts of the company. Using data, the Control Tower team handles supply chain problems, stopping different facilities from accidentally seeking the same resources during challenges. This model handled Recent IV shortages well, as conservation measures and powerful Control Tower processes meant that little surgery was canceled.
Investing in Consolidated Service Centers
The new Consolidated Service Center by AdventHealth is designed to improve the reliability and resilience of its supply chain. Because of its leading technology and skilled employees, the distribution center provides better service to communities and patients. You can easily integrate AI into the business, supporting clear visibility of suppliers and effective inventory management.
Transitioning to Regional Distribution Networks
Mayo Clinic has shifted from a Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory system to dedicated regional warehouse and inventory centers. This transition includes selecting new primary distributors and requiring distributors with self-manufactured products to take more ownership in ensuring supply availability. The changes have led to improved inventory adjustments, safety stock levels, automation of replenishment, and enterprise-wide visibility to inventory and point-of-use locations.
Fostering Clinical Collaboration
UCSF Health’s approach to supply chain sustainability stresses the benefits of aligning different medical departments. Amid COVID-19 and the issues with IV solution shortages, clinicians weighed potential products, studied how to use available resources best, and looked for ways to save stock. Such activities pointed out which items to source and helped develop honest relationships with the care team.
Establishing Offsite Warehouses
UCLA Health has opened a warehouse off-site to work alongside its main distribution company. Here, you store emergency products and reprocessed items, together with PPE. So that you can reduce the impact of supply chain problems.
Streamlining Governance and Decision-Making
Tenet Healthcare has worked to match important roles throughout the company and within its suppliers to those with the needed experience and authority. Streamlined governance and not having excess administrative tasks around have allowed the organization to be more responsive, collaborate between functions efficiently in disruptions, and take on less risk. This method has made managing supply chain challenges easier and more affordable.
Conclusion
Healthcare organizations’ efforts to deal with supply chain disruptions prove their dedication to keeping patients cared for at all times. Strengthening how they share information, using centralized systems, improving technology, encouraging teamwork and simplifying decision-making help healthcare systems build tough supply chains for upcoming challenges. They help identify present weaknesses and set up the healthcare supply chain for better future performance.
