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Medtech Business Review | Monday, September 09, 2024
It is possible to deliver blood or blood samples to the desired recipient at a specified location using technology. Additionally, compact indoor drones can be used to deliver medications to patient’s right at their bedsides in hospital buildings.
FREMONT, CA: As the country fluctuates between open and closed and regulation varies from state to state, the full scope of the pandemic has been realized. A total of 20 million novel Coronavirus cases have been reported in the U.S. as of this writing, leaving many hospitals in desperate need of medications and supplies. Thus, healthcare and biopharmaceutical companies are rushing to manufacture products as soon as possible.
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Prior to receiving critical inventory, hospitals must work with ineffective supply chains that may use ill-equipped distribution models. In the aftermath of initial shortages and delays at the beginning of the pandemic, healthcare executives should focus on long-term supply chain solutions. They can turn to technology solutions to create availability for life-saving items such as medication, personal protective equipment (PPE), and medical devices.
Medical Shortages: Initial Response
After Covid-19 hit the U.S., supply chains were overwhelmed as stores nationwide ran out of toilet paper, disinfectant products, and other essentials. As a result of the fragile medical supply chain, hospitals nationwide also experienced inconsistent inventory levels. PPE was in short supply in some hospitals.
Initially, factories worked hard to meet the high demand for ventilators, only for the need to dissipate, resulting in excess supply. Hospitals had to respond to shortages during what is likely the most formidable healthcare crisis in history as a result of multiple weaknesses in the supply chain.
The impact of the supply chain on medications: Vaccine production and distribution and vaccination of frontline workers are increasing globally, resulting in shortages of other essential medications. Early in May, the FDA added 11 new generic medications to its shortage list. The final destination of a drug is often unknown once it leaves the manufacturer. From the distributor to the hospital and, ultimately, the patient, it is difficult to track and trace the drug's journey within the current system. As the covid-19 vaccine rollout continues and government officials announce new plans for the next phase of the nation's response to Covid-19, there are many heartening signs of progress.
Future shortages can be avoided: In order to significantly improve a traditionally manual and incredibly broken supply chain, technology solutions need to be considered. Healthcare executives can access data and projections quickly with the help of several automated technologies. Healthcare professionals can quickly and accurately see their inventory using cloud-based RFID technology, preventing shortages.
Using the Internet of Things (IoT), companies can connect medical devices to enable them to communicate with each other and ensure information is updated across departments rather than stacked up in silos. IoT solutions for healthcare are offered by companies like Telit, Comarch, and others. A third option is an analytics platform powered by artificial intelligence, such as an electronic health record (EHR) AI platform. Through cataloging, users can distribute and curate all analytics in one web-based action. Additionally, users may be able to access benchmarking data to analyze their overall performance.
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