New model aims to help the government better predict and manage potential supply shortages linked to disasters, epidemics, pandemics
Expression Networks, a provider of technology solutions to the Department of Defense and Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX), announced that they are collaborating to develop a unique prototype that will help predict supply constraints and disease hotspots throughout the United States.
The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) has awarded Expression Networks a phase 2 award in support of the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium’s (MTEC) National Emergency Telecritical Care Network (NETCCN) Project. NETCCN is focused on supporting the extension of high-quality, remote intensive care to traditional and non-traditional and temporary healthcare facilities that lack adequate critical care expertise and resources necessary to combat future crises.
Leveraging GHX’s extensive pool of existing supply chain data and analytics in combination with other data sources and reporting capabilities, Expression Networks will build a predictive analytics engine that could help the Federal government gain earlier visibility into supply shortages and make more data-driven decisions during national health emergencies such as COVID-19.
The predictive analytics prototype, called the supply constraint predictor, is intended to help the government better identify where and when surges are happening with near real-time visibility and inform decisions such as how and where to deploy the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) repository. The funding stems from a contract sponsored by the HHS and was awarded through MTEC.
As a prime contractor on the MTEC NETCCN award, Expression Networks engaged GHX as one of its exclusive data partners. GHX was selected for its position in the healthcare industry as a neutral party and its unique, comprehensive data set that includes both pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19-era information at the category level on critical care products, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and industry accepted substitutes. Existing GHX supply chain data will be used in conjunction with other data sources and Expression Network’s artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and data analysis capabilities to support the broader NETCCN pilot project focused on critical care and supply shortages to better support national disaster response.