Healthcare Supply Chain Challenges: How Technology Can Help Business
Healthcare supply chain challenges: How technology can help,Author: Whitney J. Palmer,Several years after the pandemic, healthcare supply chain challenges continue to . According to the Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA), there have only been slight reductions in the between December 2021 and November 2022. Given that over 90% of respondents to a HIDA survey expect the medical supply chain situation to stay the same or worsen in 2023, it is no surprise that healthcare executives continue to take a closer look at their supply chain. A Syft survey found that 93% of respondents agree that their organizations have taken some steps to , but nearly two-thirds think more should be done to protect against future medical supply chain disruptions. The Kaufman Hall report identified the . Healthcare operational challenges and the supply chain,The Kaufman Hall report found that . Some of the top healthcare supply chain challenges include:,Low resilience,Deloitte research highlights the , particularly given that hospitals and healthcare systems historically find it challenging to pivot due to their size—even in the face of emergent circumstances. As a result, medical supply chain disruptions can occur, negatively impacting both patient care and hospital operations. Healthcare leaders are increasingly recognizing the need for agility, citing supply chain disruptions as their behind ensuring patient safety. Limited visibility,Linked with low resilience, limited visibility can be the result of a siloed structure within healthcare institutions. Without easy access to data that is both centralized and available in near-real time, for instance an existing inventory system, it can be hard for healthcare leaders to determine what supplies their facilities need and what they have available. Some of the shortfalls of inventory management systems may include:,It's also much more difficult to predict future demands, potentially leading to shortages. The United Nations estimated that greater supply chain visibility (specifically into cold chain shipping) could have . Cost management,Expenditures within healthcare facilities can soar when supply chain visibility is low. Even after two years, (PPE) is still high. Throughout the pandemic, hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide spent . Even with dropping PPE prices, it's currently one of the largest expenses many healthcare facilities endure. However, without a clear view of inventory, executives are at risk of both supply shortages and/or unnecessary spending. How technology can help,Healthcare supply chain challenges have the potential to negatively impact patient care and the bottom line. For example, over $34 billion is lost annually from outside the recommended range. A Syft survey of healthcare C-suite leaders found a majority believe could boost revenue. Fortunately, there are many technologies and software tools that can directly address these supply chain challenges. Internet of Things (IoT),The ability to seamlessly (i.e. smartphones, patient-monitoring tools, tablets, etc.) is already a critical element of everyday healthcare operations. It's also vital to the supply chain [For Verizon, please link to ECO MFR 05 'How IoT can enable a demand-driven supply chain']. Medical devices and equipment enabled with IoT sensors can make it easier to automate and provide near-real-time updates on supply chain processes and equipment performance. For example, can help to accurately track an organization's full supply chain. Data analytics,By using advanced supply chain analytics, healthcare providers and leaders can more accurately This information also opens the door for benefits including better forecasting, improvements in efficiency, key performance indicator tracking and inventory optimization. Ultimately, using advanced analytics will help healthcare leaders make better, more informed decisions for their medical supply chain. Radio frequency identification technology (RFID),With the quality of patient care on the line, having enough resources on hand is paramount. Consequently, asset tracking—knowing when supplies are low and where newly ordered supplies are—is a priority. RFID tags and sensors, like the , can assist with this healthcare supply chain challenge in a way that saves both time and money. Whether they are included in the packaging or installed in smart supply cabinets, they can monitor and track products in near-real time. As a result, and potential shortages can be avoided. RFID and IoT devices can also play an integral role in cold chain monitoring. Many medications and vaccines, including one of the COVID-19 vaccines, must be at specific temperatures. RFID passive sensors and data loggers can record details about temperature and moisture, alerting providers and leaders to heat exposure. The importance of 5G to addressing healthcare supply chain challenges,is uniquely suited to help organizations respond to the various healthcare supply chain challenges they currently face. As healthcare systems continue to expand, so do the number of devices that must be securely connected to a hospital or healthcare system's supply chain. 5G has the capacity to provide connectivity to that a 4G-enabled system can handle. In addition, the deployment of 5G can make it easier for healthcare systems to use edge computing to strengthen and streamline the medical supply chain. Supply chains that leverage ultra-low latency, and artificial intelligence empower both providers and facility leaders with the institution-wide data they need to analyze their medical supply chain in near-real time. Enterprise Intelligence and the medical supply chain,When leveraged correctly and efficiently with the increasing number of IoT devices, 5G connected technology can provide hospitals and healthcare systems an solution for the operational challenges that come hand-in-glove with scaling data. Whether it's from sensor-enabled patient-monitoring devices, provider smartphones or wearables, each tool can capture a vast amount of valuable information that can better inform a facility's daily operations. With accurate and easily accessible data, facilities are better positioned to streamline their supply chain management and positively impact patient outcomes. From the day-to-day perspective, a well-organized and maintained medical supply chain is the foundation of healthcare operations. With more data at their fingertips, hospital and health system executives can address their healthcare supply chain challenges—and 5G can help them along the way. Learn more about how Verizon is driving the . Kaufman Hall, , page 15. Kaufman Hall, , page 4. If you'd like to receive new articles, solutions briefs, whitepapers and more—just let us know. . * Indicates a required field. We will follow up from your contact request using the information provided. Choose your country to view contact details. Manage your account or get tools and information. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. 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