Supply Chain

The world’s only authorized monkeypox vaccine, Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos vaccine, is set to be split into fifths after the FDA cleared the strategy on Aug. 9 — a solution that could indicate the future for resolving emergency drug shortages, pharmacy and supply chain experts said.

To find out what resilience means and what strategies supply chain hospital leaders should take, Becker’s spoke with William Weinstein, a McKinsey partner who’s one of the leaders who serves healthcare providers with external spend, and Drew Ungerman, a McKinsey senior partner who advises healthcare clients on strategy. 

Cardinal Health’s board of directors has elected Jason Hollar as the company’s new CEO, effective Sept. 1. 

The global supply chain could soon step out of the 18-monthslong storm of shortages and high costs, according to the Financial Times. 

The two-decadelong partnership between Mechanicsville, Va.-based healthcare solutions company Owens & Minor and Minneapolis-based Allina Health will refresh the health system’s supply chain resiliency platform. 

Manufacturing company Azenta entered into a definitive agreement to acquire B Medical Systems, a global distributor that supplies products designed to store and transport goods that require cold temperatures, such as some of the COVID-19 vaccines.

To combat the opioid epidemic, nonprofit Remedy Alliance bought 100,000 doses of naloxone, a drug that’s used to reverse opioid overdoses, and community groups have already ordered 43,000 doses, according to The Washington Post.

The nation’s only drug to treat monkeypox is wrapped up in red tape, The New York Times reported Aug. 6.

The Environmental Protection Agency released the names of 23 U.S. locations and territories where medical sterilizer facilities are producing dangerous levels of ethylene oxide, an odorless emission that’s associated with high cancer risks, the agency said Aug. 3. 

Cardinal Health has opened a 110,000-square foot facility in East Hartford, Conn., to support the manufacturing and distribution of specimen collection kits, the company said Aug. 3. 

Healthcare investment firm Patient Square Capital plans to acquire Hanger, an Austin, Texas-based orthotic and prosthetic devicemaker, for $1.25 billion. 

Citing eight product malfunctions, Smiths Medical has recalled more than 118,000 syringe infusion pumps after reports of one death and seven serious injuries. 

Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger health system is partnering with Excelerate to reduce its supply chain costs up to 20 percent, according to a July 20 press release. 

In the most serious type of recall, American Contract Systems has recalled 99,900 distributed COVID-19 test kits after the FDA deemed the facility “uncontrolled” because of untrained workers.

The shortage of resin, an ingredient medical manufacturers use in plastic products, isn’t affecting hospitals equally.

Since Florida’s health department won’t promote the authorized COVID-19 vaccine for infants and toddlers, and independent pharmacies and national retailers are left to pick up the slack, there’s spotty access across the state. Parents are fed up, The Washington Post reported July 17. 

With a high demand and limited supply of monkeypox vaccines, some states and cities are prioritizing doses for those who have had direct exposure to monkeypox, and others are offering only one shot of the required two-dose regimen. 

The nation’s stockpile of monkeypox vaccines racks up to nearly 7 million with the latest HHS purchase of Jynneos doses from Bavarian Nordic, the only manufacturer with an approved monkeypox vaccine.

In one of the largest known thefts of personal protective equipment, accounting for more than $470,000 worth of gloves, masks and gowns, a federal judge sentenced three men to 28 months in federal prison. 

Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health System has partnered with drone delivery company Zipline to transport medical supplies to hospitals, labs and physician offices across the system.

Medical device manufacturer Medtronic is poised to invest $75 million to co-promote CathWorks’ artificial intelligence device that diagnoses coronary artery disease and detects its physiologic effects. 

Despite federal efforts to boost infant formula production, supply rates in five states dropped below 60 percent and the nationwide rate recently dipped 7 percentage points, Bloomberg reported July 8. 

With the impending summer dip in donors, blood centers across the U.S. face a tall hurdle during a national blood shortage. 

With the World Health Organization scrambling to reevaluate the outbreak and cases racking up in the U.S., the HHS ordered 144,000 monkeypox vaccines and said it plans to deploy the doses by July 11. 

The global shortage of iodinated contrast dye, which has forced hospitals to postpone CT scans and other imaging procedures since May, will last until the end of September, the American Hospital Association’s senior director of supply chain told Becker’s. 

In response to one factory’s shutdown and the resulting monthslong baby formula shortage, the FDA set its sights to import more infant formula from other countries with an updated guidance July 6. 

Here are six drug and device recalls that have been reported to the FDA since mid-June:

Medical manufacturers warn the rising cost of raw materials such as plastic can hinder hospital supply, Bloomberg reported July 5. 

Bavarian Nordic is the nation’s main supplier for the only FDA-approved monkeypox vaccine, Jynneos, but the company isn’t running at full capacity, The New York Times reported July 1.

GE Healthcare has recalled 4,222 Carescape R860 ventilator backup batteries in a class 1 recall, the most serious type, after discovering replacement batteries were unexpectedly running out of juice.

With the COVID-19 pandemic straining medical supply chains for more than two years, operation experts are still grappling with daily disruptions.

In an interview with Becker’s, Boston-based Northeastern University mechanical and industrial engineering professor Jacqueline Griffin, PhD, shared some thoughts on why drug shortages have plagued the nation for years and ways to fix the supply chain. 

Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health will open an inventory reserve program designed to anticipate supply chain needs and better equip health systems and labs ahead of the flu season, according to a June 29 press release. 

Here are 23 medical supply recalls Becker’s Hospital Review has reported on this year: 

Within 24 hours of opening vaccination sites in New York City and Washington, D.C., appointments filled up and physicians ran out of monkeypox vaccines, The Hill reported June 27. 

Retail pharmacies are imposing purchase limits and increasing prices for the emergency contraceptive Plan B after people flocked to stores hours after the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, The Wall Street Journal reported June 27.

Patients dependent on breathing devices are using recalled ventilators, BiPAP and CPAP machines as they still have months before a potential replacement, the Los Angeles Times reported June 23. 

Americans who are blind or have a vision impairment can now access free, at-home COVID-19 tests through USPS, according to a June 23 White House press briefing. 

Isikel is set to build a 196,000-square-foot facility that will produce about 440 million nitrile gloves annually, according to a June 22 press release. 

Medical supplier Becton, Dickinson and Co. recalled 67 lots of intraosseous needle set kits, manual driver kits and powered drivers, citing the potential of a needlestick injury and nonfunctioning access. 

German medical manufacturer Draeger recalled one lot of its SafeStar 55 Breathing System Filter due to defective, “partially obstructed” filters that could obstruct oxygen flow and lead to death, according to the FDA. 

As domestic manufacturers chug away at replenishing the nation’s supply and the federal government imports baby formula from around the world, it’s unclear what the nation’s current inventory is. Here are four things to know about the shortage that’s expected to last until July: 

While backorders have always been a possibility with specific manufacturing issues, domestic and global factors have exacerbated the issue for healthcare systems across the U.S.

Citing the lack of childproof packaging, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 407,050 units of four medications June 16. 

Marlborough, Mass.-based Boston Scientific entered into a definitive agreement to shell out $230 million for Synergy’s M.I. Tech, a medical device manufacturer and distributor, for a 64 percent stake by the end of 2022.

Forty-nine states have requested vaccines for children under 5 from the federal government. Florida is the only state that didn’t sign up, according to the Miami Herald. 

Less than two weeks after Abbott resumed producing infant formula at its Michigan plant, it’s down again. This time, the problem is severe storm-induced flooding in parts of the factory, according to a June 15 press release. 

The U.S. is running dry on more than 100 treatments, including cardiovascular, antibiotic and anti-infective drugs, according to the FDA. 

Unlike recent national shortages of baby formula and contrast dye, there isn’t data tracking the absence of tampons — but consumers are still struggling to find them. 

Online healthcare supplier and 1-year-old company Bttn clinched a $20 million series A funding round with the help of existing investor Fuse. 

After the COVID-19 pandemic hindered personal protective equipment supply, Inova developed an isolation gown that can be washed and reused up to 100 times and slashes 213 tons of annual waste.

As CDC-reported cases of monkeypox rack up to 49 across 16 states and Washington, D.C., the U.S. ordered 500,000 more monkeypox vaccines from Bavarian Nordic. 

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

Medical supply company Cardinal Health anticipates its 208,144-square-foot distribution center in Grove City, Ohio, will be fully operational by November. 

Here are eight drug and device recalls that have been reported to the FDA since May 1:

While CT scans have been postponed for weeks or months after a COVID-19-related shutdown interrupted one plant’s contrast dye production, hospitals could decrease their use up to 83 percent, according to research published June 9 in JAMA. 

Tampon manufacturers and suppliers are running to meet a higher demand, which could be the next supply shortage the healthcare industry faces, according to Time. 

A former Abbott employee submitted an Occupational Safety and Health Administration complaint in February 2021, months before the baby formula-producing plant in Sturgis, Mich., stopped operations, The Wall Street Journal reported June 8.

Minneapolis-based Medtronic recalled 1,614 pump implants developed for the company’s HeartWare ventricular assist device, which the FDA deemed a class 1 recall, the highest level, June 8. 

After failing to pass another COVID-19 relief package, the federal government is veering off course and investing $10 billion for vaccines and the antiviral treatment Paxlovid originally marked for tests and personal protective equipment, The New York Times reported.

Technology research firm Gartner ranked 55 supply chain undergraduate programs and graded the top 25 in North America. 

With a $150 million check, medical supply company Health Supply US will break ground in Greenville, S.C., with a new Glove One factory. 

President Joe Biden’s Operation Fly Formula tacked on a fifth flight to import baby formula amid the national shortage. The plane from Cologne, Germany, will land on a runway in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 9. 

Philips Respironics recalled all V60 and V60 Plus Ventilators on June 3 over a power issue that may cause the devices to shut down without an alarm.

Biopharmaceutical company Pfizer will manufacture materials for the antiviral drug Paxlovid in Kalamazoo, Mich., after a $120 million investment for the treatment’s first stateside factory.

The catalyst for the national baby formula shortage, Abbott’s plant in Sturgis, Mich., restarted production June 4 after a monthslong closure due to contamination. 

Production of an X-ray imaging dye at a Shanghai plant will resume at normal speed this week after COVID-19-related shutdowns halted supply in May.

Coverage on global contrast dye shortages affecting patient care was the most-read supply chain story Becker’s reported last month. 

The contrast dye shortage, caused by COVID-19 lockdowns in China, has spurred leaders at healthcare systems across the nation to come up with innovative solutions to continue services with rationed supplies.

The national baby formula shortage is worsening, despite federal efforts to increase manufacturing and accelerate imports from other countries, The New York Times reported June 1.

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

Abott recalled 4,800 Dragonfly OpStar imaging catheters May 26 due to the marker band becoming loose and, in two instances, separating from the device. 

The infant formula shortage will likely last until late July, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, said during a Senate Health Committee meeting, The Hill reported May 26.

Coral Gables, Fla.-based Baptist Health South Florida and Medline entered a partnership May 24 to “identify new strategies for enhancing data-driven operational and clinical efficiencies.”

Coral Gables, Fla.-based Baptist Health South Florida and Medline entered a partnership May 24 to “identify new strategies for enhancing data-driven operational and clinical efficiencies.”

The Federal Trade Commission announced an investigation May 24 into the infant formula shortage, The Hill reported. 

The Federal Trade Commission announced an investigation May 24 into the infant formula shortage, The Hill reported. 

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

The FDA and Phillips Respironics provided updates on the mechanical ventilators that were recalled in June 2021 resulting in more than 21,000 medical device reports, 124 of which were tied to deaths. 

The closure of a Teva Pharmaceuticals manufacturing plant in Irvine, Calif., could affect the availability of 24 generic sterile injectable drugs, including five essential medicines, according to the first analysis from the End Drug Shortages Alliance.

Here are five recent stories Becker’s has covered on the contrast dye shortage affecting healthcare systems nationwide:

Robert Ford, CEO of Abbott, apologized for the role the company played in a nationwide shortage of baby formula in a May 21 op-ed for The Washington Post. 

The GE Healthcare contrast dye shortage resulting from the COVID-19 lockdowns in China has experts concerned about supplies in the coming weeks, Bloomberg reported May 19.

The U.S. could run out of several key COVID-19 medications this summer if more emergency funding is not secured to replenish supplies, Bloomberg reported May 17. 

The hospitalization of two young children in Tennessee has magnified concerns over a national shortage of baby formula, The New York Times reported May 17.

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

A third round of free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government are now available, NBC News reported May 17. 

A national shortage of contrast media is hindering hospital and health systems’ ability to care for patients and what’s available should be distributed based on need, the American Hospital Association said in a May 16 letter to GE Healthcare.

A shortage of a key ingredient used for imaging services is forcing physicians to ration medical scans for only the most crucial cases, a challenge that will likely continue for the next six to eight weeks until supplies are replenished, The Washington Post reported May 11.

Physicians are urging parents not to dilute baby formula amid an ongoing shortage of the product. 

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

The FDA issued a notification May 10 about the potential risk of exposure to toxic compounds in Fresenius Medical Care hemodialysis machines.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and cargo-handling companies at West Coast ports are set to begin contract negotiations May 10 for 22,400 workers across 29 ports, which has some experts concerned about further supply chain disruptions, The Wall Street Journal reported May 8. 

Healthcare facilities across New York are seeing shortages of chemicals used in imaging services as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns in China, according to the Greater New York Hospital Association.

Collaboration is key in building patient care supply resiliency, according to a May 2 report from the Healthcare Industry Resilience Collaborative and Supply Risk Solutions.

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

The supply chain crisis has caused persistent shortages of basic medical supplies, such as IV tubing and catheters, leading systems to stockpile materials, Forbes reported May 3.

The continued disruptions to global supply chains are beginning to affect healthcare industry operations, according to Premier’s “The Current State of Healthcare Supply Chain Disruptions” report. 

The FDA issued a notification April 29 regarding two confirmed counterfeit COVID-19 testing kits and urged people not to use or distribute them. 

Seventy new COVID-19 cases in Beijing and an upcoming testing blitz may lead to a new lockdown of China’s capital city that has raised concerns about its potential impact on global supply chains, The New York Times reported this week.

Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp., one of the world’s largest shipping companies, has seen signs of port congestion easing, Bloomberg reported April 27. 

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

Supply chain woes are likely to last for the “foreseeable future,” Mike Roman, CEO of 3M, said in an April 26 interview with BNN Bloomberg.

A combination of international and domestic events in recent weeks have the potential to disrupt the U.S. supply chain. 

China’s extended COVID-19 lockdown of Shanghai has led to logistical disruptions that have almost caused the transport of goods to be “ground to a halt,” The Wall Street Journal reported April 21.

Here are seven health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

Supply chain disruptions and shortages, exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war, are risk factors for corruption to occur from third parties and agents, The Wall Street Journal reported April 21. 

The most recent supply chain disruption resulting from the Russia-Ukraine war is the decommission of Antonov aircrafts, Ukrainian cargo “mega planes,” “The Wall Street Journal Google Your News Update” podcast said April 14. 

As supply chain shortages persist across the country, suppliers are seeking alternative solutions to find equipment for their patients, Spectrum News 1 reported April 14.

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

White House officials say although the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated supply chain issues, it did not create them and they will continue to cause disruptions once the pandemic ends, The New York Times reported April 14.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and other global factors have created a variety of supply chain issues for healthcare systems across the U.S.

Leaders from kidney organizations wrote a letter to White House officials April 8 urging them to prioritize the needs of kidney disease patients by addressing staff shortages and supply chain disruptions at dialysis centers across the country. 

Here are six recent updates from healthcare suppliers Becker’s has reported since March 7:

Johnson & Johnson must pay $302 million to California for “many years of deceptive marketing” about pelvic mesh implants with the potential to cause serious vaginal pain and damage, The San Francisco Chronicle reported April 11.

Global Healthcare Exchange named 78 healthcare provider and supplier organizations to the 2021 GHX Millennium Club, which honors organizations that achieved the highest levels of automation.

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

Experts say while global supply chain disruptions have been “relatively minor” thus far from China’s lockdowns to curb COVID-19 outbreaks, major disruptions are a growing possibility, The Guardian reported April 6.

Experts say while global supply chain disruptions have been “relatively minor” thus far from China’s lockdowns to curb COVID-19 outbreaks, major disruptions are a growing possibility, The Guardian reported April 6.

Inventory costs advanced to 91 in March, the highest index ever recorded, according to the Logistics Managers’ Index Report published April 5. 

Inventory costs advanced to 91 in March, the highest index ever recorded, according to the Logistics Managers’ Index Report published April 5. 

A combination of international and domestic events in recent weeks have the potential to disupt the U.S. supply chain. 

National and global factors like the Russia-Ukraine war are complicating supply chain issues in the U.S., with health systems expecting to see price hikes in certain medical supplies for which raw materials are sourced in Russia. 

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

Millions of chronically ill patients are struggling to get medical supplies amid global shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, The New York Times reported March 29. 

China’s lockdown of Shanghai to curb a COVID-19 outbreak has exporters bracing for delays from the supply chain disruptions, The Wall Street Journal reported March 28.

The potential strike of 22,000 dockworkers along the nation’s West Coast could aggravate current supply shortages and lead to higher prices for consumer goods, The New York Times reported March 28. 

The U.S. is halting distribution of sotrovimab, a COVID-19 antibody made by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology, in regions where the omicron subvariant BA.2 has become dominant in response to data suggesting the treatment is ineffective against the strain. 

A congressional oversight subcommittee has opened an investigation into the FDA’s regulation of the HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device, which was implanted into thousands of Americans after the agency identified safety issues with the heart pump, ProPublica reported March 23. 

As the Russia-Ukraine war persists, U.S. healthcare systems are already seeing the effects of the conflict through increased prices for oil and natural gas and Ukrainian refugees seeking treatment. 

U.S. Pharmacopeia, an independent scientific organization, released a medicine supply map aiming to build visibility and identify which pharmaceutical ingredients are vulnerable to shortages, the organization said March 16. 

Here are 10 health systems that have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

The FDA on March 21 shared recommendations for healthcare organizations to conserve prefilled 0.9 percent sodium chloride intravenous lock/flush syringes amid a national shortage. 

The FDA would be allowed to collect at least $1.78 billion in user fees over five years under a reauthorization of the medical device user fee program, according to a series of recommendations from the agency and representatives from the medical device industry released March 22. 

To help ease chronic blood shortages in the U.S., hospitals should partner with blood centers to increase donations and work with centers to host blood drives, America’s Blood Centers said in a March bulletin. 

States will see a significant reduction in shipments of COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments from the federal government beginning March 21 as the White House’s request for $15.6 billion in pandemic funding stalls in Congress, ABC News reported. 

The FDA is returning to normal facility inspection operations, which were significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a March 21 report from The New York Times.

The FDA recently posted recall notices for four rapid COVID-19 tests recalled since Jan. 13.

Several hundred providers of Evusheld, a COVID-19 antibody treatment for immunocompromised, were removed from a federal dataset March 16, making it even more difficult to locate the therapy, Kaiser Health News reported March 17.

Medical device recalls, whether voluntary or mandated by the FDA, ensure patient safety. 

Ten health systems have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

A new $350 million medical manufacturing facility producing nitrile gloves is set to be built in Baltimore County, Maryland, according to a March 16 news release from the manufacturer. 

The images and reports from the war in Ukraine have moved several health systems to action, donating their own medical supplies and medicines to be sent to the war-torn nation. 

China’s “zero tolerance” approach to COVID-19 outbreaks has led to measures to curb its worst surge since 2020 that will further disrupt global supply chains, The New York Times reported March 15.

Baxter recalled over 277,000 infusion pumps due to the risk of the device failing to alarm users of repeated upstream occlusion events.

ACON Laboratories has recalled unauthorized and misbranded counterfeit COVID-19 at-home testing kits. 

The FDA on March 10 issued a notification order to Philips Respironics requiring the company to notify all customers of the company’s June 14 recall of certain Philips Respironics ventilators. 

Some patient advocacy groups are voicing concerns that a federal policy blocking Mexican nationals from entering the U.S. to donate plasma could cause shortages of critical drugs used to treat neurological and autoimmune diseases, The Wall Street Journal reported March 9.

Ten health systems have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

Fast Company on March 8 released its 2022 list of “Most Innovative Medical Device Companies.”

U.S. healthcare organizations could see a rise in prices for some medical supplies as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, as some common raw materials come from the region. 

Tennessee Technical Coatings Corp. recalled all lots of its hand sanitizer March 8 after an FDA analysis found methanol in the product.

A second round of free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government are now available, President Joe Biden said March 7. 

Walgreens, Labcorp and HHS are offering free, nationwide access to COVID-19 at-home PCR test collection kits through the pharmacy’s website.

B. Braun Medical on March 2 issued a nationwide voluntary recall of its 250 milliliter injections of 0.9 percent sodium chloride. 

Global Health Exchange released its annual list of the 50 best healthcare supply chains in North America March 8. 

Low-priced foreign masks have driven some U.S. manufacturers out of business, The New York Times reported March 5.

Low-priced foreign masks have driven some U.S. manufacturers out of business, The New York Times reported March 5.

Hospitals nationwide are facing a shortage of common saline products because of supply chain bottlenecks and a large spike in demand amid the omicron surge, Bloomberg reported March 4.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response should enhance the management of the nation’s Strategic National Stockpile, a new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine suggests. 

Developers are pursuing rapid flu and strep-throat diagnostic products as the pandemic raised consumers’ comfort level with monitoring their own health, The Wall Street Journal reported March 3.

Ten health systems have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on global supply chain operations will likely depend on sanctions applied by the West and retaliation from Russia, according to a new report from Premier. 

The FDA issued warnings against using three at-home COVID-19 tests that have not been authorized by the agency over the risk of false results. 

Several widely used rapid antigen at-home COVID-19 tests are effective at detecting omicron, according to preliminary research published Feb. 28 in MedRxiv. 

Medtronic launched its NuVent Eustachian tube dilation balloon, which gives surgeons an outpatient option for some ear, nose and throat conditions. 

While a record-breaking 41,354 organ transplants were performed in the U.S. last year, the nation’s current organ transplantation system is inequitable, and more can be done to boost that number, according to a report published Feb. 25 from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. 

A former medical supply company owner in Virginia Beach, Va., has been sentenced to 51 months in prison in connection with a multimillion dollar healthcare fraud scheme, the U.S. Justice Department said Feb. 24.

Arrow International recalled over 24,000 percutaneous thrombolytic devices due to risk of tip damage during use, which could result in tip detachment from the basket.

The Biden administration released long-term actions it plans to take to boost supply chain resiliency Feb. 24. 

Ten health systems have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

The FDA released a list of 17 rapid COVID-19 at-home tests Feb. 22 that are authorized by the agency.

McKesson ranked seventh on Fortune’s annual list of the 500 most profitable U.S. companies in 2020, making it the top-ranked medical distributor. 

Medical device recalls, whether voluntary or mandated by the FDA, ensure patient safety. 

Distributors are increasingly looking to highways instead of railroads for transportation to get around bottlenecks and avoid delays, The Wall Street Journal reported Feb. 21.

Nearly 49,000 courses of Eli Lilly’s bebtelovimab — a monoclonal antibody treatment effective against omicron — have been distributed throughout the U.S. since the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for the drug Feb. 11. 

Family Dollar recalled products shipped to 404 stores after a rodent infestation was discovered in a West Memphis, Ark.-based distribution center.

The federal government is developing plans to distribute free high-quality face masks for children, according to White House officials. 

About 73 percent of U.S. physicians aren’t confident in the supply chain’s ability to deliver safe, quality medicines, according to recent survey findings. 

About 50 million Americans have received their shipments of free rapid COVID-19 tests from the federal government since mid-January, officials said Feb. 16. 

Healthcare Ready, a national nonprofit organization, announced its 2021 “Heroes of the Supply Chain” honorees this week.

Ten health systems or healthcare companies have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week: 

Respirators need to be redesigned to fit everyone well, Saralyn Mark, MD, wrote for The Hill Feb. 16.

The demand for masks has slowed as the COVID-19 pandemic eases, leading manufacturer 3M to see a likely reduction in growth by 2 percentage points this year, The Wall Street Journal reported this week.

China’s ‘zero-COVID-19’ policy, which institutes strict lockdowns in the face of local outbreaks, could lead to global supply chain disruptions, The Wall Street Journal reported this week.

Some states have begun distributing free at-home COVID-19 tests to residents. 

Federal data suggests at-home COVID-19 antiviral pills aren’t turning out to be the highly demanded game changers health experts anticipated, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy reported Feb. 11. 

KF94 masks are high-quality masks made in South Korea that are often described as being more comfortable than typical respirators, The New York Times reported Feb. 10. 

Lawmakers are calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to halt implementation of a $2.2 billion supply chain management system across its healthcare facilities, Federal News Network reported Feb. 9. 

Here are three recent stories on personal protective equipment fraud reported by Becker’s since Feb. 4: 

Global supply chain issues likely won’t clear up anytime in the near future, the CEO of the world’s largest shipping container company told CNN Business Feb. 9.

Ten health systems or healthcare companies have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

Some ventilators from Imtmedical, a subsidiary of Vyaire Medical, have unintentionally stopped ventilation during use and require rebooting to resume ventilation because of a software issue, according to a Feb. 4 news release from the FDA. 

The American Red Cross declared the first-ever national blood crisis on Jan. 11. 

Illegally imported at-home COVID-19 test kits were recalled in the U.S. on Feb. 4, according to a recall notice from the FDA.

Seventeen organizations have joined the Alliance for a Strong Blood Supply, a coalition focused on strengthening the nation’s blood supply through advocacy campaigns. 

The University of Washington Medicine and Washington State Hospital Association are suing a Texas company for allegedly selling $4 million in counterfeit N95 masks, The Seattle Times reported Feb. 4.

A group of congressmen is urging President Joe Biden to invest in a global COVID-19 vaccine supply, Business Standard reported Feb. 4.

Many rapid at-home COVID-19 testing kits recommend storing the tests above 35 degrees. That could spell trouble as winter storms affecting millions of Americans this week collide with the delivery of some of the free government-supplied rapid tests people are expecting, USA Today reported Feb. 4. 

Medical device recalls, whether voluntary or mandated by the FDA, ensure patient safety. 

The FDA is warning healthcare providers and the public to stop using two COVID-19 rapid tests distributed with a label falsely indicating they were authorized by the agency.

Bonn, Germany-based DHL Supply Chain will invest upward of $400 million to expand its pharmaceutical and medical supply network 27 percent by the end of the year, the company said Feb. 2.

Ten health systems have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

Experts predict supply chain troubles in the U.S., characterized by images of overloaded ports, will likely persist throughout the year, in part because what’s needed to address the problems is a complicated undertaking, The New York Times reported Feb. 1.

Spright, a U.S-based medical flight service provider, signed a $16 million drone delivery contract with German drone pioneer Wingcopter in its latest move to establish a drone-based delivery network across the U.S., MobiHealthNews reported Jan. 31.

Recent stories on COVID-19 testing in the U.S. include Meijer stores offering free at-home tests at its pharmacies, states stockpiling surplus supplies and more.

Demand for N95s, KN95s and KF94s has skyrocketed, and, unfortunately, so have counterfeit masks. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Jan. 30 announced a program to ship COVID-19 antiviral pills from Pfizer and Merck directly to residents’ homes for free, though supplies are limited. 

The White House said Jan. 28 that 60 million households across the country have ordered COVID-19 testing kits through the new government website, CNBC reported Jan. 28. 

Updates on COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapies in the U.S. include FDA guidance on effectiveness and rationing of treatments amid shortages.

A state COVID-19 rapid test exchange program has ceased operation, and more states are stockpiling surplus supplies instead of donating to others with shortages, Kaiser Health News reported Jan. 31.

The American Hospital Association, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association on Jan. 27 called on those who are able to donate blood. The joint statement comes about two weeks after the American Red Cross declared the nation’s first ever blood crisis. 

The American Hospital Association, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association on Jan. 27 called on those who are able to donate blood. The joint statement comes about two weeks after the American Red Cross declared the nation’s first ever blood crisis. 

Supply chain issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic have led leaders at health systems across the U.S. to develop innovative solutions to manage disruptions. 

Houston-based respirator manufacturer Aegle plans to develop a five-layer children’s mask to protect against the transmission of COVID-19, other airborne particles and pollution from wildfires, the company said Jan. 27. 

Ten health systems have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

The monoclonal antibody therapies made by Regeneron and Eli Lilly, which the omicron coronavirus variant has essentially rendered useless, are still in high use in 12 states, Kaiser Health News reported Jan. 21. 

The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health faces a backlog of applications from manufacturers seeking regulatory approval for N95s and other air-filtering masks, Roll Call reported Jan. 19.

All blood specimen collection tubes were added to the FDA’s device shortage list on Jan. 19 amid an increase in demand and recent supply issues.

Ten health systems have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

The federal government on Jan. 18 launched its website for Americans to request free rapid COVID-19 test kits be shipped to their homes. 

Experts say many industries could face further supply chain disruptions if China imposes widespread lockdown measures to curb the spread of the omicron variant, The New York Times reported Jan. 16. 

The Biden administration’s plan to distribute 1 billion rapid COVID-19 tests is putting pressure on manufacturers and distributors to bolster tight nationwide supplies, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 16. 

Ten health systems have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services said blood shortages forced the trauma center at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center to close for several hours on Jan. 10, The Los Angeles Times reported. 

The aisles for over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are nearly bare across Dallas Walmart, Target, CVS and Sam’s Club locations, The Dallas Morning News reported Jan. 10. 

The FDA has extended the shelf life of nearly 1 million rapid COVID-19 test kits that first expired in a Florida warehouse in September, the Miami Herald reported Jan. 11. 

The American Red Cross, which supplies 40 percent of the nation’s blood, on Jan. 11 declared the first-ever national blood crisis. 

Medical device recalls, whether voluntary or mandated by the FDA, ensure patient safety. 

Medical device recalls, whether voluntary or mandated by the FDA, ensure patient safety. 

The increasing demand for COVID-19 testing is prompting some labs across the U.S. to ration access and prioritize patients presenting symptoms or other health concerns, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 10.

The increasing demand for COVID-19 testing is prompting some labs across the U.S. to ration access and prioritize patients presenting symptoms or other health concerns, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 10.

ECRI, a nonprofit organization focused on patient safety and healthcare quality, released the first public ranking of commonly used at-home COVID-19 test kits based on usability. 

The federal government has resumed shipping all three COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments to systems across the U.S. despite evidence two of the three may be ineffective in treating omicron, The Washington Post reported Jan. 9. 

Lyon County (Kan.) declared a local emergency Jan. 7 after Newman Regional Hospital ran out of ventilators, The Kansas City Star reported. 

The U.S. government is finalizing a plan with the U.S. Postal Service to distribute 500 million COVID-19 tests to households nationwide, four people familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.

Anywhere from 800,000 to 1 million COVID-19 tests expired in a state stockpile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis revealed during a Jan. 6 news conference, NBC2 News reported. 

Supply shortages and surging COVID-19 cases have prompted health systems across the country to ration treatments, The New York Times reported Jan. 6.

Owners of an Orlando-based medical supply company have agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve allegations they participated in a scheme to defraud Medicare. 

Ten health systems have posted job listings for supply chain expertise in the last week:

A domestic medical gown manufacturing plant funded by 34 health systems will start production in early spring. 

Officials in Chicago and Philadelphia are warning residents to be aware of fake COVID-19 tests and testing sites given the scarcity of supplies during the recent surge of cases.