From the earliest days of the pandemic, all types of healthcare facilities have struggled with securing necessary supplies. From personal protective equipment early on to the more recent shortages of blood tubes, keeping essential supplies stocked has been a challenge. While the issues aren’t going away in the short term, making Caresfield part of your supply chain solutions can help address some of these issues.
“We’ve been buying from Caresfield for years now, and there’s no way we’d ever return to our old vendor. It started with finding inexpensive labels which actually stick and has now grown to include all sizes of cohesive bandage and gloves. You guys are the best, and we’ll always refer other businesses looking for a supplier to Caresfield!”
– Rachel J., Laboratory, Family Physician, Oregon
Becker’s Healthcare recently quoted six ASC leaders on the state of the supply chain. Medication reimbursements are being cut. In addition, shortages of many medical supplies are driving costs up. Because of these factors, it’s more important than ever to manage costs.
What’s Causing Supply Chain Issues?
Several factors contribute to current supply chain issues. Many manufacturers are struggling to source the raw materials needed for products. There are ongoing transportation issues with shipping, trucking and rain disruptions.
Last November, our friends at Premier evaluated the current state of healthcare supply chain disruptions, and detailed how members can secure necessary supplies. Premier recommends conserving personal protective equipment and recently extended Caresfield’s contract as a supplier of nitrile medical exam gloves.
In addition, a recent article at Maritime Gateway examines congestion at U.S. ports and a Fast Company article looks at how supply chain issues will evolve in 2022. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear there will be relief for the supply chain anytime soon.
The good news, according to Caresfield Director of Supply Chain and Operations Wade Blom, is that there are steps you can take to protect your facility. “Our customers, when they work within our ordering system, will never know there are supply chain issues,” Blom said. “We build a safety net into our ordering process, so our customers have a seamless experience.”
What Can You Do?
While supply chain issues make it harder to focus on providing exceptional care, there are several ways you can control costs and ensure you have an adequate stock of essential supplies. Here are some helpful supply chain solutions:
Order Early
You have the best insight into your current stock and average usage. Don’t wait until your inventory is critically low. Order your supplies earlier than usual. As supply chain issues linger, lead times are getting longer. Many healthcare facilities are running into backorders for disposable tourniquets and other supplies typically made overseas. Plan for at least an extra week on lead times.
Communicate With Vendors
In addition to ordering early, one of the best ways you can ensure a steady supply is to let your vendors know if you are expecting usage to increase. This helps manufacturers know when they need to source more raw materials to meet your needs.
Place Standing Orders
Likewise, it’s important to leverage supplier agreements. Your GPOs are constantly working to ensure they have the products you need. Beyond those relationships, you can consider placing standing orders with suppliers. With Caresfield, all you do is reserve a term, supply a purchase order and decide if you want your supplies shipped regularly or on demand. When you are ready to order, we offer same-day shipping.
“Order predictability drives supply chain reliability and stability,” Blom said. “When orders are placed in advance, we can reliably have supplies at your door as needed.”
Make Backup Plans
Sometimes, the supplies you need just aren’t available. In those cases, it’s important to have a backup plan. If your clinicians typically use flat-pack disposable tourniquets, you can consider substituting individual rolled tourniquets in the short term. In this era of supply chain disruptions, it’s important to remain flexible. It’s also possible that you’ll discover a new product that works just as well, but carries a cost savings.
Talk to a Real Person
At Caresfield, we know the needs of a 400-bed hospital are vastly different from those of a standalone elder care facility. We serve over 3,000 clients across the spectrum of health care. One of the reasons we are so effective is our best-in-class customer service. When you call during business hours, a real person picks up the phone. If you use the live chat feature on our website, you’ll talk with a member of our customer service team.
“We’ve been buying from Caresfield for years now, and there’s no way we’d ever return to our old vendor,” said Rachel J., a Caresfield customer from a family physician in Oregon. “It started with finding inexpensive labels which actually stick and has now grown to include all sizes of cohesive bandage and gloves. You guys are the best, and we’ll always refer other businesses looking for a supplier to Caresfield.”
To hear from more satisfied customers, check out our customer testimonials.
As a U.S.-based manufacturer and distributor, Caresfield takes pride in providing supply chain solutions. To learn more about our labels, disposable tourniquets, patient ID wristbands and specimen collection products, visit our website.
