HSCA
Group Purchasing Organizations: Supply Chain Leaders in Emergency Response
BY KHATEREH CALLEJA, J.D.
Health crises like the coronavirus place enormous stress on the entire health-
disruptions might occur, and working
care system, including first responders, physicians, hospitals, other healthcare providers,
closely with the Department of Health
and the patients they serve. America’s healthcare providers and physicians are faced with
and Human Services’ (HHS) Strategic
a number of challenges – from obtaining necessary supplies to educating practitioners
National Stockpile (SNS), U.S. Food and
on proper response procedures – as they work tirelessly to treat and prevent the spread
Drug Administration (FDA), Congress,
of the coronavirus and preserve patient care.
the Administration and all policymakers to inform responses. HSCA and its member GPOs are also actively support-
As the sourcing and purchas-
ing policy solutions like Medical Supply
ing partners to America’s acute and
Chain Security Act, the Safeguarding
non-acute providers, healthcare group
Therapeutics Act and the MEDS Act
purchasing organizations (GPOs)
which help enhance supplier resiliency,
play an important role in helping to
safeguard the supply chain and prevent
support response efforts to emergen-
and mitigate product shortages.
cies like the coronavirus. Leveraging
GPOs take their role as the sourcing
their line of sight over the healthcare
and purchasing partners to America’s
supply chain, GPOs work with public
hospitals very seriously – a commit-
and private healthcare stakeholders to
ment that is tried and tested during
ensure healthcare providers have what
as healthcare stakeholders, and state,
emergency situations. As the United
they need to effectively and efficiently
federal, and local health and emergency
States continues to address the corona-
combat public health threats.
management agencies to ensure a coor-
virus pandemic, HSCA and its mem-
dinated, comprehensive response.
ber GPOs will continue to work with
GPOs work with healthcare providers to create preparedness plans to
In response to the coronavirus pan-
Congress, the Administration, federal
ensure uninterrupted patient care; to
demic, GPOs are taking a number of in-
agencies and all healthcare stakehold-
source alternate supplies of products in
novative steps, including tracking emer-
ers throughout the healthcare delivery
shortage and to respond nimbly to help
gency room data, surveying provider
system to protect the supply chain and
hospitals, nursing homes, and other
members to gain an accurate understand-
ensure hospitals and healthcare provid-
providers treat a surge in patients. In
ing of supplies on hand and estimate
ers are equipped to treat and prevent
the event of an epidemic, GPOs work
future needs, working with suppliers to
the spread of this disease and provide
with their provider partners as well
see where potential supply shortages and
first-class patient care.
Khatereh Calleja, J.D., is the president and CEO of Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA).
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April 2020 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
