Supply Chain

Managing supplies is a crucial part of moving medical products from the manufacturer to patient’s bedside. Efficient supply chains can reduce healthcare costs and make medical devices more affordable for patients and health systems. This news page includes content on supply shortages, inventory management, and procurement practices.

Ecolab selling its surgical solutions business for $950M
Medline has entered into a “definitive agreement” to buy the surgical division, giving the company access to a variety of surgical supplies and equipment used by clinicians and patients.
FDA announces recall of SonarMed airway monitors after injury
Medtronic brand SonarMed airway monitors and acoustic sensors are being recalled due to a risk of breathing obstruction and lung tissue damage.
FDA announces recall of infusion pumps after thousands of complaints, 1 death
InfuTronix has received 3,698 complaints related to device failures of its Halo Ambulatory Infusion system and other Nimbus pumps.
FDA announces recall of more than 2 million catheter parts, citing serious health risks
Fresenius Medical Care is issuing a recall on 2,192,535 catheter extensions and adapters used in patients with acute and chronic kidney disease.
Joint replacements recalled after FDA safety warning
The FDA initially made the complaint in January. Exactech has agreed to recall products at risk of chemical oxidation as a result of faulty packaging.

Manufacturers, health organizations unite to address medical supply chain

The newly formed group, the American Medical Manufacturers Association, includes Altor Safety, Aquaspersions USA, Blue Star NBR, Lutema, Ochsner Health, Premium-PPE, SafeSource Direct, United Safety Technology and Vizient as its initial members.

February 15, 2023

Hospital staff walking through a medical facility, intentionally blurred to look artistic

More evidence that 2022 has been a hard year for healthcare providers

Many hospitals are experiencing losses for 2022, a year that some are calling the most difficult operating environment they’ve ever experienced.

October 19, 2022

FDA confirms nationwide shortage of Adderall

Manufacturers, it seems, are unable to keep up with high demand.

October 14, 2022

CEO turnover appears to be stabilizing in healthcare

So far in 2022, 832 CEOs have left their roles––and healthcare CEOs have been among the most active role departures.

August 10, 2022

Clover Health expands MA plan footprint

Tennessee-based Clover Health, which first launched in 2014, currently offers MA plans in 209 counties, caring for 85,000 members.

July 19, 2022

CT contrast shortage seen as amplification, continuation of deep-set dynamics

The shortage of iodinated contrast media that has rattled U.S. radiology since early May didn’t come from nowhere.

July 8, 2022

Wisconsin company to begin producing medical isotopes next year

The company’s CEO, Greg Piefer, detailed the plans at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference on June 2, stating that production would be achieved via small-scale nuclear transmutation.

June 3, 2022

An example of spectral cardiac CT being used to show iodine density in the myocardium to show perfusion deficits. Shown by Philips healthcare at ACC 2022.

VIDEO: Mitigating the contrast media shortage impact on CT imaging

Brian Ghoshhajra, MD, MBA, division chief, cardiovascular imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the impact of the iodine contrast shortage on computed tomography (CT) and cardiac imaging.

June 2, 2022

Supply Chain

Ecolab selling its surgical solutions business for $950M

FDA announces recall of SonarMed airway monitors after injury

FDA announces recall of infusion pumps after thousands of complaints, 1 death

FDA announces recall of more than 2 million catheter parts, citing serious health risks

Joint replacements recalled after FDA safety warning