Supply Chain

As hospitals and outpatient facilities resume surgeries according to federal and state guidelines, ensuring the availability of surgery-critical resources will be top of mind.

High demand for gowns, gloves and masks during the COVID-19 pandemic drove Cardinal Health's sales up 11 percent to $39.2 billion in the quarter ended March 31, Columbus Business First reports.

There are several supply considerations for ASCs and outpatient facilities resuming services during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Infection Control Consulting Services.

Resuming elective surgeries at Minnesota hospitals could strain already limited resources of personal protective equipment, nurses told the StarTribune.

As ASCs begin resuming elective surgeries following the guidelines announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on April 191, patients may have concerns about contamination upon entering a healthcare facility.

Former Cardinal Health CEO Parker Eales is leading a new organization for independent physicians and practices in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area, Triangle Business Journal reports.

Seven states in the Northeast U.S. are partnering to buy about $5 billion worth of medical equipment and supplies, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced May 3.

There are currently 109 items listed on the FDA's Drug Shortages list, which ASCs should be mindful of as they reopen centers.

After recommending that hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers postpone surgeries in mid-March in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced guidelines on April 19 that detail how facilities can begin to resume procedures.1

Envision Healthcare's 257 surgery centers are providing staff and supplies to local hospitals as part of the Nashville, Tenn.-based company's efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.