Supply Chain

Demand for at-home COVID-19 tests has risen significantly in recent weeks as virus cases surge and people return to school and work, The Wall Street Journal reported Aug 26. 

The FDA has alerted healthcare facilities to stop using certain N95 masks made by the company Shanghai Dasheng Health Products Manufacturing due to "serious concerns" with the quality of the masks, the agency said Aug. 25. 

A recall of millions of ventilation devices by Philips in June has led to a shortage of such devices, and as the COVID-19 delta variant surges, physicians are concerned about the low supply, The New York Times reported. 

The U.S. has been facing a worsening national blood shortage for months as the pandemic has delayed blood drives and fewer people are donating. Hospitals have had to delay surgeries, and providers have expressed fears of patients receiving suboptimal care. 

If you are looking to develop a more clinically integrated supply chain, one of the biggest areas where providers can find more visibility is through partnering with their medical supply manufacturers and distributors.

Orlando, Fla., officials are asking residents to limit nonessential water usage for two weeks to preserve liquid oxygen, which is used to treat severely ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19. 

As COVID-19 cases surge across the US, oxygen is in high demand, and areas with high concentrations of virus cases are seeing their supplies strained, WCBI, a CBS affiliate in Columbus, Miss., reported.  

Supply chains are the keepers of knowledge, and not just for products and services, but for relationships too.

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

The FDA Aug. 18 warned healthcare providers and procurement staff to stop using and discard all ultrasound gels and lotions made by Eco-Med Pharmaceuticals due to a risk of bacterial contamination that's been associated with at least 59 infections.