Supply chain is one of the most critical functions of a health system, so it's critical they create a strategic supply chain model that aligns with their vision. A strategic model means moving beyond delivering products with high efficiency to incorporating the long-term goals of a health system. 

Hospital pharmacists often face the tough decision of how to best manage drug shortages. Even though there is a vast amount of data on the pharmaceutical supply chain, pharmacists don't have access to software that can help them best respond to changing trends.

As we are all acutely aware, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly magnified supply challenges in the healthcare industry. Virus surges are causing an unprecedented amount of variation in both the demand for and the available supply of products.

When tackling freight management for your facility, there is no “one-size-fits-all" approach to savings.

The federal government has awarded a $590 million loan to ApiJect Systems America for a novel injection device the company said could be used instead of traditional glass vials and syringes for vaccinations. 

Companies most often cited the cost of COVID-19 testing as the primary reason they weren't testing their workers, rather than test availability or turnaround times, The New York Times reported. 

Ten hospitals and health systems posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

HHS has launched a pilot program in five states to test the portable COVID-19 molecular test used by the NBA to control the virus in its "bubble" this season. 

Senate Democrats introduced a bill Nov. 18 to boost the U.S. supply of personal protective gear by allocating $10 billion for the government to buy masks, gloves and face shields, The Hill reported. 

The FDA has issued an emergency authorization for the first at-home COVID-19 test that can deliver results in less than 30 minutes. 

3M, a Minnesota-based conglomerate that spans the automotive, construction and energy industries, has become increasingly involved in production of personal protective gear for healthcare workers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. House of Representatives has started a COVID-19 testing program for lawmakers and staffers as many travel back and forth from Washington, D.C., The Hill reported. 

Thirty-four health systems have partnered with Premier and DeRoyal Industries, a medical manufacturer, to form a joint venture designed to produce isolation gowns in response to critical shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., warned Nov. 12 that Connecticut will face severe shortages of personal protective equipment and testing supplies amid rising COVID-19 cases in the state, WTIC, a local Fox affiliate in Hartford, Conn., reported. 

Henry Ford Health System in Detroit is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, which is causing a shortage of testing supplies, The Detroit News reported. 

Diagnostic testing labs around the country are warning that they may soon experience delays in processing COVID-19 tests as infection numbers surge around the country, Politico reported.

Ten hospitals and health systems posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

Stryker has recalled a device intended to treat blood clots during a stroke after finding a risk it may break during use. The devicemaker said it has received reports of one death and 11 injuries related to this issue. 

A suburban Chicago businessman has been charged for allegedly swindling more than $2.6 million from hospitals who paid him to supply them with personal protective equipment, the U.S. Justice Department said Nov. 10.