Title: Comparison of selected supply chain management practices of three major regional/metropolitan hospitals within the context of the dual COVID-19 and opioid crises

Authors: Alan D. Smith

Addresses: Department of Marketing, Robert Morris University, Moon Township, Pittsburgh, PA 15108, USA

Abstract: The twin COVID-19 and the opioid crises have intensified the need for proper supply chain coordination among area hospitals. Hospitals are facing the difficult balancing act of striving to be lean or low cost, yet ensuring that there is sufficient excess capacity and inventories of needed medical-related supplies in theses crisis. The objectives of this study are to compare the current practices in supply chain management (SCM) of three Pittsburgh, PA-area hospitals to describe the current state, identify areas of potential improvements, and make conceptual recommendations that include strategic planning of the key performance indicators (KPI) of the supply chain using appropriate metrics and aggregate measures. Management at these healthcare organisations have taken proactive steps to ensure that modern methodologies and advanced technologies in the hospital supply chain can improve their respective strategic plan via data-driven analytics in an ever challenging operational landscape.

Keywords: business strategy; case study; COVID-19; data analytics; General Services Administration; GSA; generic inventory package; GIP system; key performance indicators; KPIs; methamphetamine addiction; operational efficiency; opioid epidemic; public health; supply chain management; SCM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2024.138930

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2024 Vol.48 No.2, pp.155 - 175

Received: 18 Sep 2021
Accepted: 12 Mar 2022
Published online: 04 Jun 2024 *

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