HSCA
BY KHATEREH CALLEJA, JD, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HEALTHCARE SUPPLY CHAIN ASSOCIATION
Healthcare Group Purchasing Organizations:
Helping to drive COVID-19 response and recovery The coronavirus pandemic has impacted every aspect of the American
of defense in surge situations by helping
healthcare system, placing unprecedented pressure on hospitals, nursing homes, physi-
to vet new manufacturers for compli-
cians, and the healthcare supply chain. Physicians and other healthcare providers are fac-
ance with standards set by the FDA and
ing a number of challenges, from trying to find ways to effectively treat patients while
National Institute for Occupational Safety
conserving critical supplies, to coordinating with public health authorities, to constantly
and Health (NIOSH). GPOs have also
updating treatment plans in light of new COVID-19 data. As the sourcing and purchas-
been advocating for legislative solutions
ing partners to America’s acute and non-acute healthcare providers, healthcare group
like the Safeguarding Therapeutics Act,
purchasing organizations (GPOs) play a critical role in emergency response efforts and
which enhances the FDA’s authority to
have been working around the clock alongside healthcare providers to help address and
destroy counterfeit drugs and medical
prevent the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard patient care.
devices at American ports of entry, preventing such products from entering the supply chain to help support .
GPOs have provided critical support and guidance to hospitals and healthcare
record of providing critical support dur-
systems throughout the pandemic, assem-
ing emergencies like Hurricane Harvey,
bling dedicated communications teams,
the California wildfires and the Ebola
providing training to clinical teams, and
outbreak, GPOs understand firsthand just
creating a dedicated war room of staff
how critical public-private coordination
working continually to provide timely up-
and collaboration is for ensuring a compre-
dates on the latest public health protocols,
hensive response. That’s why GPOs have
product supplies, and more. GPOs have
been working closely with the Department
also helped hospitals and health systems
of Health and Human Services (HHS),
institute preventative measures in facilities
new manufacturers to contracts to rapidly
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
and nursing homes, including regular
increase supplies, and working with non-
(FDA), Drug Enforcement Administration
temperature screenings, closing dining
traditional and adjacent industries to fill
(DEA), Assistant Secretary for Prepared-
and common areas, establishing regu-
supply gaps for essential products such as
ness and Response (ASPR), FEMA, and
lar checkpoints and mask distributions,
hand sanitizer, isolation gowns, and surgi-
healthcare stakeholders to provide data on
and other integral measures in our fight
cal caps. When a hospital’s standard dis-
surge capacity, streamline communication,
against this pandemic.
tribution channels were unable to supply
and identify and mitigate potential short-
N95 masks, the hospital’s GPO worked to
ages related to the coronavirus.
To help ensure healthcare providers have access to personal protective equip-
secure a substantial supply of N95 masks
ment (PPE) and other critical medical
from a U.S. industrial chain retailer.
supplies, GPOs have pursued a number
40
As an industry with a proven track
GPOs’ fierce commitment to qual-
As America’s healthcare providers continue to work to treat and prevent the spread of the coronavirus, GPOs will be
of actions such as supply coordination ef-
ity has also helped to protect member
alongside them to provide critical support
forts to help medical teams obtain prod-
hospitals from purchasing counterfeit or
and enable continued patient access to
ucts and support surge capacity, adding
inferior goods, serving as a significant line
high quality, affordable healthcare.
October 2020 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
