Business advisors have preached efficiency and just-in-time inventory management in all sectors of the economy. On one level it makes sense, reducing storage costs. Environmentally it makes sense, too, not to build bigger buildings and storage sites. But for healthcare #pandemic
In healthcare, just-in-time inventory leads to dangerous shortages. After Hurricane Maria, there was a saline shortage. Saline is one of the basics of hospital healthcare, but with electricity/facilities damaged by the hurricane, we ran out.
There were 211 drug shortages in 2010. Before then, 224 in six years. Just-in-time inventory makes no sense with medical supplies in drugs because interruptions are inevitable. From strikes, earthquakes, #pandemic
cbsnews.com/news/why-so-ma…
cbsnews.com/news/why-so-ma…
And now we have shortages of swabs, masks, and gloves. Truly basic supplies.
We really need to rethink what just-in-time inventory management means in healthcare.
Perhaps FEMA/CDC could stockpile instead of companies...
#pandemic
We really need to rethink what just-in-time inventory management means in healthcare.
Perhaps FEMA/CDC could stockpile instead of companies...
#pandemic
