Optimizing Healthcare Supply Chains: Ensuring Efficient Delivery of Medical Supplies (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: Healthcare and medical supply chains are the how behind a very important task. Getting medicines and medical supplies to healthcare professionals so they can treat patients. Efficient healthcare supply chains are vital to getting these products where they're needed most, when they're needed most. And just as with any other supply chain, this efficiency can also lead to cost savings passed along to the end customer. What is a healthcare supply chain? A healthcare supply chain is similar to a retail supply chain, just with a different type of, quote unquote, retailer getting products to customers. Healthcare and medical supply chains refer to all the resources and coordination involved in getting medical supplies and medicine to the provider, and thereby the patient. Medical supply chains start with raw materials and suppliers, then manufacturing, then distribution, and then wholesalers before supplies go to hospitals or other medical facilities and pharmaceuticals go to pharmacies. The added piece for pharmaceuticals is pricing, which is set in concert with pharmacy benefit managers, also called PBMs, in the step between distribution and retail. Also involved in healthcare supply chains are regulatory agencies and insurance companies, among other stakeholders. Products that traverse healthcare and medical supply chains include the obvious, like pharmaceuticals, medical supplies like PPE or personal protective equipment, instruments like scalpels and syringes, and medical equipment like ventilators and monitors. In addition, though, even office supplies like pens, clipboards, computers, and tissues could be included, as well as food and beverages for hospitals. What is healthcare supply chain management? Healthcare supply chain management is the practice, some might say the art, of optimizing healthcare and medical supply chains. That involves the creation and execution of shipping strategies, tracking inventory needs, cultivating relationships, working with stakeholders, incorporating technology, ensuring fast, reliable delivery, and, of course, finding cost savings whenever possible. A key difference between healthcare supply chains and retail supply chains is demand. Healthcare is a need that doesn't go away with customer spending habits. Demand is perhaps solely influenced by world events, like a pandemic, for instance. Successful medical supply chain management takes that into account and involves adjusting to those new challenges and aligning with new partners when needed. Need help with healthcare supply chain management? At Intec Freight & Logistics, we're experienced with medical supplies and much, much more. Reach out to us with your specific needs and we'll let you know how we can take the supply chain management burden off your hands so you can focus on patient care. Call us at 317-208-5565 or visit our website www.intecfreight-logistics.com and hit the request a quote button. Please do give us a thumbs up below and subscribe to this channel to get future videos first. Thanks very much for watching. you