Celebrating Supply Chain Week: Recognizing The Backbone Of Patient Care

Behind every syringe, mask and IV bag used in patient care is a dedicated supply chain team ensuring that hospitals have what they need — when they need it.

During National Health Care Supply Chain Week (Oct. 5–11), Missouri hospitals are encouraged to celebrate the importance of health care supply chain professionals by  honoring them for their exceptional contributions and the innovative ways they support their health care organizations and patients.

“Supply chain may not be bedside, but we are involved with patient care. We wouldn’t be where we are today without our supply chain teams,” said Josh Gilbert, director of supply chain at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and member of the Missouri Association of Healthcare Purchasing and Materials Management.

The 2025 theme of the week is “Confidence in every decision, care in every step.”

Managing the supply chain — from daily operations to emergencies

Missouri hospitals blend strategic planning with real-time responsiveness to manage supply chain risks. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the limitations of “just-in-time” ordering, but stockpiling isn’t always financially feasible either, according to Kara Amann, director of hospital preparedness programs at the Missouri Hospital Association.

Amann recommended prioritizing critical items and managing less essential supplies through standard procurement processes. Larger systems may have the ability to forecast global trends, but smaller hospitals can mitigate shortages by increasing Periodic Automatic Replenishment levels and rotating stock.

“We try to keep a reserve of emergency supplies on hand at all times, but to be fully prepared is almost impossible,” Gilbert said.

Balancing cost and quality

Finding a balance between cost-efficiency and high-quality, reliable supplies is a constant challenge for hospitals, especially as supply chain costs often rank just behind labor in a hospital’s overall budget.

Both Amann and Gilbert emphasized the importance of leveraging group purchasing organizations, which allows facilities to access broader networks and negotiate better terms.

“Utilizing your GPO contracts will aid in keeping an eye on your supply cost,” Gilbert said, noting that those agreements helped Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center maintain costs due to tariff increases on certain medical items.

Amann also recommended supply chain departments engage clinical staff in supply decisions, automate processes and build strong vendor relationships.

Overcoming supply chain vulnerabilities

Missouri hospitals navigate numerous challenges in the supply chain, including cybersecurity threats (especially to vendors), dependencies on single-source providers, raw material shortages and manual systems still in use at some hospitals that can limit efficiency, Amann said.

Many vendors require minimum order quantities that smaller facilities simply can't meet, and existing contracts may restrict flexibility, Amann said. Some hospitals contract with secondary vendors for limited supplies.

Long distances from distribution centers mean rural hospitals, like Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, must work harder to maintain steady inventory, often without the luxury of quick replenishment, Gilbert said.

“We have to keep in constant communication with our suppliers to avoid back orders wherever possible,” he said.

To support statewide supply chain resilience, Missouri hospitals and health systems are encouraged to report disruptions using MHA’s Supply Chain Shortage Reporting Tool. This tool provides early visibility into shortages and strengthens MHA’s advocacy efforts with credible, hospital-sourced data.

Supply chain resilience is a hospital-wide effort

A resilient supply chain depends on collaboration across several hospital departments. Amann suggested supply chain teams build strong relationships with other hospital units before disruptions occur.

“It is important to have a broad network of support to inform supply chain management decisions,” Amann said.

Gilbert also suggested forming value analysis teams that include supply chain, finance, clinical and nonclinical leaders, as well as keeping the communication lines open and honest with all stakeholders.

How to celebrate Supply Chain Week

This week serves as a reminder that the supply chain touches every corner of hospital life and encourages hospitals to celebrate their supply chain team.

The Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management offers webinars and a social media toolkit to help hospitals celebrate.

MAHPMM provides a forum for health care purchasing and materials management professionals to exchange ideas and grow through education. Those interested in joining MAHPMM should contact Christy Carel, MHA’s director of membership services.

Want to learn more? Listen to MHA’s PolicyHuddle podcast or explore AHRMM’s podcast series for deeper insights into the health care supply chain.