from the editor
Post-Pandemic , Hospitals Still Grappling With Lingering Supply Chain Issues
Supply chain interruption is the No . 4 issue on ECRI ’ s Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2021 , right behind No . 3 pandemic preparedness , for good reason . Seemingly still fragile , the healthcare supply chain struggles to keep up with demand , even though arguably , in late 2021 most hospitals are in better shape than they were at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic .
As ECRI observes , “ The COVID-19 pandemic severely strained healthcare supply chains , creating widespread shortages of key medical equipment and supplies , including ventilators , testing equipment , and personal protective equipment ( PPE ) such as masks , gloves , and gowns . Shutdowns in countries that manufacture and produce raw materials , coupled with limits on exports , resulted in severe and extended delays for much-needed supplies .”
As we know , to address these shortages , healthcare organizations have resorted to non-traditional approaches , including off-label use of existing devices , expansion of device indications for use , as well as use of nonmedical-grade equipment . As ECRI warns , “ Alternate manufacturers and suppliers are often new and insufficiently vetted . When ordered from these alternate manufacturers , products were often expired , damaged , below standard , or different from the product ordered — and some products did not arrive at all .”
Alarmingly , ECRI testing found that 60 percent to 70 percent of imported non-NIOSH-certified respirator alternatives failed to reach 95 percent filtration efficiency , while 52 percent of gowns with unstated levels of protection failed to meet even the lowest protection standards .
ECRI says , “ Tackling supply chain interruptions during emergencies and health crises requires planning , preparation , flexibility , and cooperation with outside collaborators ,”
and makes the following recommendations :
• Source medical supplies from multiple suppliers that are not all concentrated within a single region . Consider tracking country of origin data for both products and raw materials ; entering into dual-source agreements ; and establishing connections with international brokers .
• Reassess inventory models ( e . g ., supply chain methodologies , amount of inventory on hand ) to determine if they are still effective .
• Vet and track both nontraditional domestic suppliers and nontraditional international suppliers .
• Establish and maintain relationships with collaborators such as government agencies , group purchasing organizations ( GPOs ), manufacturers , distributors , and other healthcare providers .
• Identify functional equivalents to medical supplies ( consult ECRI ’ s proprietary database ) and seek GPO and distributor solutions that identify all available alternatives .
• Determine which devices are appropriate to reuse when feasible and follow all proper disinfection protocols .
• Follow ECRI ’ s recommendations for addressing shortages of devices such as facemasks , isolation gowns , gloves , and eye protection , as well as for conserving existing PPE supplies , evaluating imported N95-style masks , and using homemade facemasks .
We hope you ’ ll find advice and inspiration from the healthcare value analysis and supply chain experts we consulted in development of this special edition , and here ’ s to a brighter future and a fuller pipeline in the weeks and months to come .
Reference : ECRI . Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns 2021 . healthcarehygienemagazine
A . G . Hettinger , CPA president & CFO
Patti Valdez art director
J . Christine Phillips customer service manager
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