Supply Chain

Alan Johnson, MD, an otolaryngologist with Altru Health System in Grand Forks, N.D., invented the Minne Ties Agile MMF, a non-invasive jaw-fixation device available for oral and facial plastic surgeons to treat jaw fractures without bars, bone screws and wires.

ASCs should minimize the number of different storage locations for the same item, said Molly Ehrlich, Vizient's consulting director of advisory solutions for supply chain operations.

Uncovering hidden waste and discovering areas of savings can be achieved by re-evaluating internal processes. The key is knowing where to look and how to act.

Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan Health System agreed to pay $4.3 million to settle allegations involving stolen opioids, WNEM.com reports.

Boston Scientific plans to expand its Clonmel, Ireland-based facility in late 2018, The Nationalist reports.

Keeping an eye on performance metrics can help increase supply chain efficiency for ASCs, said Molly Ehrlich, Vizient's consulting director of advisory solutions for supply chain operations.

Alcon issued a global recall of CyPass Micro-Stent and advised surgeons to immediately stop implanting the device in patients after reviewing long-term safety data, Verdict Medical Devices reports.

Efficiency starts with performing supply logistics and distribution tasks according to a certainflow, said Molly Ehrlich, consulting director of advisory solutions for supply chain operations for Vizient, a healthcare management consulting company.

Healthcare mergers and acquisitions, new suppliers and competitors, policy reforms and increasing healthcare consumerism deepen the complexity of the already fragmented healthcare supply chain, according to Workday Industry Strategy Director Keith Lohkamp.

ASCs can be more efficient when considering alternative supply sources, according to H-Source CEO John Kupice. H-Source is a hospital supply chain platform.