Feature ArticlesCOVID-19: Implications for Supply Chain ManagementFrancis, James R. FACHE Author Information James R. Francis, FACHE,is chair of supply chain management at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The author declares no conflicts of interest. Frontiers of Health Services Management 37(1):p 33-38, Fall 2020. | DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000092 Buy Metrics Abstract SUMMARY The COVID-19 pandemic has created global health and economic disruption. Hospitals and other healthcare providers have been hit particularly hard. While efforts to effectively treat and eradicate the coronavirus continue, so do the efforts of supply chains to support the provision of patient care in the event of a resurgence or future pandemic. Supply chain leaders must continuously evaluate their strategic and tactical positions to address critical supply needs. Whether the supply chain can meet expectations remains uncertain, given rolling supply shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical–surgical supplies as healthcare providers resume prepandemic levels of operations. The ability to ensure a reliable, sustainable supply of critical PPE in the near term will remain a challenge. Longer-term substantive changes to the function and performance of healthcare supply chains will be necessary across multiple areas to meet demand more effectively during a crisis. © 2020 Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives
