TRENDS
BY NANCY ANDERSON AND CHRISTINE DEAN
Drafting a New Playbook Why the game plan for healthcare supply chain distribution needs to change now
Since March, pretty much every aspect of our lives has been turned upside
which healthcare products and services
down by COVID-19. There’s little normalcy left – so to keep our sanity – it’s important
are delivered should not be missed.
to find anything that reminds us of what life was like pre-pandemic.
This was the topic during a recent panel discussion hosted by SMI, a memberdriven, non-profit organization of provid-
During the fall and winter, football was one of those things. There was something comforting in turning on the TV on a Sunday afternoon and seeing football. Although, as we know too well,
to draft a completely new playbook to
ers, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors,
get there.
and disruptors. Executives from Cardinal
The same might be true for healthcare supply chain distribution. Thousands of healthcare organiza-
Health, Concordance Healthcare Solutions, Henry Schein, McKesson, Medline, and Owens & Minor talked about the recent
football was not the same. From no fans
tions in the United States depend on
challenges their organizations faced during
in the stands, mask coverings, wide-
distributors to deliver the right product
this crisis and what they will be doing dif-
spread testing, quarantines, and limited
at the right time – but the COVID-19
ferently in the future.
practices – professional football had to
pandemic presented a host of new chal-
completely change their game plan to
lenges to the industry. Although this was
There were 4 key themes that emerged in
keep players, coaches, personnel, and
an unprecedented event, and distribu-
the discussion:
fans safe. Although they delivered the
tion companies moved mountains to
same fast-paced, hard hitting, exciting
get supplies out to their customers, the
communication between buyers
action on Sunday afternoons – they had
opportunity to improve the processes by
and sellers
The Journal of Healthcare Contracting | February 2021
1. W e need better, more proactive
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