From personal protective equipment data to FDA clearances, here are five supply chain updates for ASC leaders:

Building and managing awareness of the shift in procedures offered by your ASC will be critical in attracting talent, supporting your current physician relationships, and ensuring your patients have the information they need to make the best decisions possible.

Here are four updates on the COVID-19 vaccine over the past week:

There's a global large plastic growbag shortage, and Medline is looking for a buyer that could value the company at $30 billion.

Here are four updates on the COVID-19 vaccine over the past week:

The FDA is urging healthcare providers to cease the crisis capacity measures like reusing N95 masks because of an increased domestic supply. 

Surgery centers can uncover new ways to save money while still supporting quality patient outcomes.

Here are six updates on the COVID-19 vaccine over the past week:

Here are five supply chain updates for ASC leaders to know:

ASC supply chain strategy is always evolving, but the pandemic exposed challenges and gaps in previous systems. Here's how two administrators are planning for this year:

At one time it might have been surprising to find out that an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) functioned without an in-house Sterile Processing Department (SPD). Today, it's common to see centers survive and even thrive without them.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned healthcare providers of the risk of using reprocessed urological endoscopes after "numerous" reports of infection.

Here are six updates on the COVID-19 vaccine over the past week:

Cardinal Health's efforts to increase supply chain visibility is a critical step to combat the personal protective equipment shortages many ASCs are still experiencing a year into the pandemic. 

Leading healthcare solutions provider Henry Schein announced a new investment in Atlanta-based Stradis Medical, which will strengthen Henry Schein's focus on the ASC market. 

Medical device company DJO's investment in Insight Medical Systems is its latest move to break into the orthopedic ASC space.

For some ASCs, vendor relationships improved during the pandemic through representative communication and provision of alternatives to shortages. For others, factors like infrequent vendor availability have made supply acquisition more difficult.

Matthew Ewasko, administrator of Physicians Alliance Surgery Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., faced challenges last year when the pandemic hit.

While personal protective equipment has been on the forefront of ASC supply chain challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, some centers are finding it difficult to acquire basic supplies as vendors focus on pandemic-related orders.

While the pandemic has strained ASC supply chain issues, Gregory DeConciliis, administrator of Boston Out-Patient Surgical Suites in Waltham, Mass., spoke with Becker's ASC Review on how to leverage good vendor relationships to solve issues.