Lessons in Working…Short

What supply disruptions could drastically affect operations?

September 12, 2024

We are working our way through a challenging shortage of blood culture bottles from BD Life Sciences. For some facilities, that shortage is projected to come to an end.A recent article dives into the hardships this has caused for facilities whose laboratories rely on these supplies to drive optimal patient care.

Laboratory equipment involves validation testing to ensure accuracy. Unlike a nasal cannula that could be used in any facility, labs have analyzers that rely on specific reagents and supplies. When one of those is affected, the ability to test may be compromised. Many have backup analyzers that can be used if a machine goes down. But when supplies are disrupted, the backup machines don’t offer an advantage. When a new analyzer is implemented, time and validation testing must be done again to ensure accuracy. It’s not a rapid deployment process.

As we worked through the COVID-19 pandemic, most facilities were short on needed supplies to combat the growing threat. As a result, universally, different standards of care were enacted to combat the problem. Some facilities may have received PAPRs (powered air purifying respirators) during the pandemic that were produced by Ford Motor Co. and 3M that were powered by DeWalt batteries (who would have seen that coming?). They received emergency use authorization, and care continued. However, when supply shortages affect only a portion of health care facilities, we don’t routinely see those sweeping changes to standards of care that assist with our daily operations.

1. Gather the right team

Each year, we update our hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA) to identify our top three to five hazards that may affect our facilities. Issues such as cybersecurity attacks and workplace violence are rightfully front and center. Supply shortages bring forth issues that individual departments may worry about daily, but they may not garner attention of everyone or generate news coverage. Be sure to include those department managers in your HVA team to hear their concerns.

2. Redundancy and partnership

Many of our facilities increase their emergency preparedness through redundancy. It’s fair to say that a health care facility likely has more than one boiler in case one is affected. Plan to develop similar backup plans for high-risk equipment and supplies in individual departments. Sometimes this may come in the form of secondary pieces of equipment or vendors, but it could also come about through partnerships with other organizations, inside or outside of your health system.

3. Review and revise

Don’t think of your HVA as a once and done. Throughout the year, changes will occur and items that ranked low early on may now stress your systems. Keep the HVA on your emergency management agenda and update it as new information becomes available. Develop a plan to decrease the severity of risk to your facility.

The bottom line

We live in a world where disruption to our supply chain could result from any number of challenges, from a manufacturing challenge to logistical concerns, like a bridge being struck by a cargo ship or a worker strike on a railroad.

To help maintain situational awareness, HAP members can join our team on the HAP Emergency Management Weekly Briefings each Wednesday at 1 p.m.

For more information, contact Ryan Weaver, MBA, BSN, RN, CPPS, CHEP, manager, emergency management.