SPECIAL FOCUS


of COVID-19 and has continued to be a significant challenge Solution(s) derived: Vizient reached out to businesses that manufacture and supply for other industries  companies we would typically never work with ne example is a local distillery we contracted to make hand sanitizer hey were ale to distill their rew to the alcohol content needed for hand sanitizer ut couldnt offer a ottling solution hat led the team to the states largest dairy farm, which donated hundreds of empty half gallon milk ugs nitially, we started recycling ottles in the hospitals, ut ultimately, we found a manufacturer in eye health care that could supply ottles he warehouse team then had to set up a filling line to fill the ottles hey otained pumps from a local hardware store that allowed them to measure out the quantity so the ottles could e filled y the team ther  items were scarce ospitals required face shields, face masks and  covers e quickly realized that these were either not availale or had huge lead times ealthcare organization volunteers offered to help make these items if we could supply the materials, so we sought the services of a large craft store that had een shut down he agreement allowed the company to keep some employees working hey pro- vided vinyl, foam, contact tape, faric and elastic to produce the required protective gear e also acquired surgical wrap from s among other sources fforts have expanded into making ouffant hair covers and continue as of late ay, allowing every caregiver in the organization to receive a face shield olunteers have made , face shields to date solation gowns were another product in


short supply e found a local usiness that makes oat covers and oat seat covers and was on the verge of shutting down nstead, after contracting with izient, they turned their manufacturing line around to provide over , isolation gowns keeping their staff employed upplying enough disposale face masks


so that every patient and visitor could wear one, along with non-clinical caregiv- ers, proved to e another challenge, so we looked at washale options his led us to a company that typically manufactures sewing lines for ackpacks, shirts, etc, and after a handful of prototype reviews, the company started manufacturing washale cloth masks for the organization, providing around , masks a week his effort has made a very significant impact in protecting the caregivers, patients and visitors he ovious ig challenge has een the  mask nce regulatory authorities


Summit Medical’s initial prototype (top left), final prototype (middle left), production line (center), packed pallet ready to ship (top right), and delivered - in use by Bob’s Produce Ranch (bottom).


allowed the use of non-medical grade masks,  went to the community to set up donation sites at every facility and the community responded with vigor he numer of donated masks was overwhelm- ing and essential in the success of keeping caregivers safe Influential, instrumental leaders: From


the onset of the crisis, the entire supply chain team worked around the clock, every day of the week to find creative ways to find and deliver  nterdepartmental relationships strengthened through it all as we relied on each other while working in ways we never imagined he commu- nity was instrumental his included the volunteers, usinesses struggling to stay afloat and even ooming usinesses look- ing to expand or simply lend a hand ands down, the community coming together is the saving grace here they were instrumen- tal in flattening this hospitals curve and keeping our caregivers safe Prepped for tomorrow:  resilient supply


chain requires the aility to pivot quickly to nontraditional sources to ensure seam- less delivery of life-saving equipment he pandemic has challenged us to think outside the ox and serves as a warning never to get


20 July 2020 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com


too comfortale  few roken links in the supply chain make a tremendous impact he crisis has taught us the importance of human and supply resiliency, a key to future success izient continues to call for trans- parency along the entire length of the chain, so we can know how to adust ahead of time when the next crisis comes ow we adust will e key e now know how important community and non-health care usinesses are to help us stay nimle and to respond to supply chain disruption


Shields raised to combat COVID-19


Organization: Summit Medical Nominator: Kevin McIntosh, President, Summit Medical


Challenge(s) faced: ith the decline of elective surgeries due to -, evin cntosh, resident, ummit edical, initiated a new product rainstorm iven the urgent demand for quality   and recognizing a need to pivot our usiness to prevent layoffs  cntosh tapped the companys engineering expertise and vendor network to develop face shields for oth healthcare workers and employees returning to the workplace


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