If you’re running a practice in the healthcare industry, then you know just how important it is for things to run smoothly. While, in other types of businesses, time means money, and that’s a saying that you’ve heard too many times before probably, the truth is that, in healthcare, time means even more than that. In some cases, it can even be a matter of life and death. Say you cannot deliver a medical device or lab results, or anything else on time – that is sure to lower the quality of overall care.
This is why supply chain management is of crucial importance in this industry and read about its even higher significance in third world countries.
Anyway, as it is probably clear by now, when your supply chain hits wall, the actual consequences can be quite serious. Because, after all, we are not dealing only with logistical consequences, but also with clinical, health related ones. This is why ensuring that everything runs smoothly, and that the supply chain remains agile, is of utmost importance. The stakes are definitely high.
Now, even though we all know the stakes, the truth is that unexpected things happen sometimes, and they can cause disruptions. For example, the pandemic caught us all off guard, and led to unpredictable demand spikes, which made things much more difficult for healthcare organizations. Then, there are some weather related issues and natural disasters that could also call disruptions.
But then, the error may lie within the organization and the partners it is working with to ensure proper services. For instance, inventory mismanagement could cause disruption, as well as miscommunication between the facilities. And then, your traditional carriers or third-party logistics providers could be responsible for some delays themselves. Anyway, what you want to know, of course, is what to do in case you find yourself in any of those problems, so let us talk about that right now.
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Do a Quick Assessment
First of all, you will have to do a quick assessment to identify the cause and the nature of the breakdown. Where is the disruption? What items are affected? Is the cargo delivery time sensitive? Asking those questions will help you better identify the problem, and thus resolve it more efficiently.
Notify Relevant Stakeholders
Being transparent in such a situation is essential. So, notify all the relevant stakeholders. Your internal team should know, as well as those stakeholders that are expecting the delivery. And, of course, you should also notify the courier service you’re using, so they can reroute if necessary.
Partner Up With the Right Couriers
Here is the most important thing to do, and you should do it even before you hit a wall. Basically, partner up with the right, specialized couriers. When you click here, you will realize precisely what it is that specialized couriers can offer. And, they can offer safe, reliable and on-time healthcare delivery services.
Focusing only on the healthcare industry, these experts understand the significance of timely deliveries. Meaning, thus, that when you are working with the right professionals, your supply chain is unlikely to hit a wall. Well, at least in the particular delivery stage that the couriers are responsible for. So, partnering up with the right couriers is one of the crucial things you can do for your supply chain.
Don’t Forget to Ensure HIPAA Compliance
Of course, there is one rather important thing to remember here. Whenever partnering up with any of those couriers, and when offering delivery services in general, you will need to ensure HIPAA compliance. So, check all the regulations and follow the rules, so as not to hit a snag due to not being in compliance.
Bonus: How to Choose Couriers
As you have understood already, one of the most important things to do in order to keep your supply chain agile is partner up with the right couriers that will do the deliveries for you. The thing is, though, you may not be sure about how to actually choose the best ones for you. Let me, thus, tell you a bit more about that right now.
You know that reliable medical courier services are important, which is why you want to make the smart choice here. Well, start by finding more companies that offer this solution, and that specialize in the healthcare industry. Then, check how long they have been in business, and don’t forget to inspect their reputation as well, as that’s how you’ll get to narrow down the list of potential candidates.
Naturally, at one point or another, you will have to get in touch with those potential companies. Use that as an opportunity to ask any questions they may have, as well as to ensure the HIPAA compliance we have previously mentioned. Then, also compare the prices, and ultimately make your final decision, while keeping all the other important factors in mind as well.