How do we end healthcare supply shortages?

• Ending the current supply chain crisis in healthcare will require smarter inventory management, infrastructure improvements, and bringing elements of US manufacturing back onshore, two experts told MDLinx.

• Taking these steps is critical to ending rolling shortages of supplies such as PPE, anesthetics, and necessities such as IV contrast and IV bags.

• Providers can focus on improving efficiency at the point of care to lower supply demands and overall strain on the healthcare system, but many of the long-term solutions will need to happen at the levels of industry and government.

First, it happened with personal protective equipment (PPE). Then, propofol and a list of...