Over 200 healthcare organizations have pledged their support of the #IAmTheHealthcareSupplyChain movement, which advocates for the investment, collaboration, promotion and the elevation of the healthcare supply chain to support healthcare professionals.
The events surrounding COVID-19 exposed challenges healthcare supply chain leaders had to overcome related to shortages, disruptions and continuity concerns to effectively care for patients. No supply chain—healthcare or otherwise—was prepared to manage a global crisis of this magnitude. Yet, throughout this historic challenge, healthcare supply chain leaders continue to collaborate and innovate in ways once unimaginable.
The #IAmTheHealthcareSupplyChain movement was started in May 2020 as a voice for the healthcare supply chain to advocate for its impact and continued advancement. By showcasing the unmatched diversity and span of the healthcare supply chain, the movement looks to unify its stakeholders in order to reveal their shared impacts on the supply chain and the full continuum of patient care.
Specifically, an enhanced supply chain can be accomplished by:
· Collaborating across the industry to develop revised strategic and supply chain continuity plans
· Promoting suppliers that further collaborative approaches and information sharing
· Advocating for the supply chain to be an integral part of the patient care delivery model of all IDNs
· Investing in supply chain resources, people, and technology.
Both individuals and organizations are invited to support this movement. Organizations can still join the movement as official partners by emailing [email protected]. Other forms of support include joining the movement as an individual to receive campaign updates, ordering a campaign t-shirt or sharing how you impact care delivery on social media using the hashtag, #IAmTheHealthcareSupplyChain.
The healthcare supply chain permeates all aspects of care delivery. From the clinicians on the front lines, to manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, GPOs and RPCs—everyone plays a part in the success of the healthcare supply chain. Outcomes, operational performance, and the overall health of the patient population begins with a healthy supply chain.
