Banner Health supply chain’s strategic pivot in 2020

Abstract

Supply Chain’s job is to ensure that critical personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies remain available for their caregivers. COVID-19 has made running out of those supplies a real possibility. Business as usual is not an option; pivoting is strategic and crucial. Banner Health Supply Chain’s collaboration and education throughout the organisation on supply chain services and cost, quality and outcomes as core competencies enabled rapid mobilisation and permanent strategic pivots in response to COVID-19. It collaboratively teamed with clinical practice to assess the situation and implement solutions in an environment that presented numerous barriers. Managing disruption and understanding the changing supply chain, while not new practices, calls for faster turnaround, flexibility and resilience. Continued work to digitally enable the supply chain allowing for more visibility will support these efforts. This paper provides an overview of supply chain services at Banner Health and the team’s strategic responses to COVID-19. It also looks ahead to a future supply chain post COVID-19.