Supply Chain & Pharmacy
Technology & Data
Care Delivery & Operations
For more than two decades, Premier has been a trusted connection point for healthcare providers, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and the government.
Throughout the pandemic, we’ve set aside competitive boundaries and leveraged our relationships at every level of the supply chain to enable access to supplies, intelligence and technology.
Our efforts are helping to:
- stabilize the supply chain
- provide an early warning of COVID-19 hotspots
- bridge the public and private sectors
- shape the public's understanding, and
- promote industrywide problem-solving
Here’s a peek into what we’ve been able to accomplish.
Supply Chain & Pharmacy
Technology & Data
Care Delivery & Operations
For more than two decades, Premier has been a trusted connection point for healthcare providers, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and the government.
Throughout the pandemic, we’ve set aside competitive boundaries and leveraged our relationships at every level of the supply chain to enable access to supplies, intelligence and technology.
Our efforts are helping to:
- stabilize the supply chain
- provide an early warning of COVID-19 hotspots
- bridge the public and private sectors
- shape the public's understanding, and
- promote industrywide problem-solving
Here’s a peek into what we’ve been able to accomplish.
SUPPLY CHAIN & PHARMACY
Trending PPE Utilization
Premier’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Team triangulated data to establish a baseline understanding of historical usage and COVID-19 consumption of N95s, isolation gowns, gloves, syringes and other critical items.
Trending consumption rates over time was critical for our members, distributors, suppliers and partners in federal agencies to adequately provide demand signaling.
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases.
We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Survey Findings
More than two-thirds of senior living facilities told us in March that they couldn’t access the PPE they needed for COVID-19 containment plans. Nearly half (43%) had no history of purchasing PPE, which shut them out from traditional procurement channels.
In April, 77% of non-acute care providers were left with only one channel to acquire PPE: online retail. Even in June, 83% reported not having their PPE needs met by traditional medical-surgical distributors.
Survey Findings
Our June acute care member survey found that 90 percent of healthcare providers were contributing to stockpiles of critical medical supplies and drugs intended to last as long as 90 days.
Yet during this time, product backorders were inhibiting requests to replenish the stockpiles and provide timely care.
Action Taken & Results
Premier provided survey insights to the CDC and FDA. Within five business days, the CDC provided emergency use authorization for expired and industrial masks.
Premier launched a conservation education initiative. By March, 97% of members had implemented a PPE conservation initiative.
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases.
We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Survey Findings
More than two-thirds of senior living facilities told us in March that they couldn’t access the PPE they needed for COVID-19 containment plans. Nearly half (43%) had no history of purchasing PPE, which shut them out from traditional procurement channels.
In April, 77% of non-acute care providers were left with only one channel to acquire PPE: online retail. Even in June, 83% reported not having their PPE needs met by traditional medical-surgical distributors.
Survey Findings
Our June acute care member survey found that 90% of healthcare providers were contributing to stockpiles of critical medical supplies and drugs intended to last as long as 90 days.
Yet during this time, product backorders were inhibiting requests to replenish the stockpiles and provide timely care.
Action Taken & Results
Premier informed FEMA and the CDC of surge rates for N95s, masks, gowns, face shields, test kits and more, which helped them:
- project national needs,
- plan deliveries to hotspots, and
- adjust stockpiling requirements.
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases.
We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Survey Findings
More than two-thirds of senior living facilities told us in March that they couldn’t access the PPE they needed for COVID-19 containment plans. Nearly half (43%) had no history of purchasing PPE, which shut them out from traditional procurement channels.
In April, 77% of non-acute care providers were left with only one channel to acquire PPE: online retail. Even in June, 83% reported not having their PPE needs met by traditional medical-surgical distributors.
Survey Findings
Our June acute care member survey found that 90 percent of healthcare providers were contributing to stockpiles of critical medical supplies and drugs intended to last as long as 90 days.
Yet during this time, product backorders were inhibiting requests to replenish the stockpiles and provide timely care.
Action Taken & Results
Premier communicated to FEMA that long-term care facilities were not represented in allocations from suppliers or medical-surgical distributors, shifting the way FEMA calculated product needs.
Premier’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Team also created an allocation tracking tool, which helped Premier educate Senate Committee members and federal agencies on the inability for long-term care facilities and nursing facilities to obtain these products.
We engaged our public e-Commerce supply channel, Stockd, in supplier partnerships to bolster access to N95s, gloves, hand sanitizer and other critical supplies. Despite the supply chain shockwaves, pricing on stockd remained unchanged, as did our commitments to buyer protections and product reputability.
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases.
We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Survey Findings
More than two-thirds of senior living facilities told us in March that they couldn’t access the PPE they needed for COVID-19 containment plans. Nearly half (43%) had no history of purchasing PPE, which shut them out from traditional procurement channels.
In April, 77% of non-acute care providers were left with only one channel to acquire PPE: online retail. Even in June, 83% reported not having their PPE needs met by traditional medical-surgical distributors.
Survey Findings
Our June acute care member survey found that 90 percent of healthcare providers were contributing to stockpiles of critical medical supplies and drugs intended to last as long as 90 days.
Yet during this time, product backorders were inhibiting requests to replenish the stockpiles and provide timely care.
Action Taken & Results
Premier called for a national strategy that integrates stockpiling needs at the federal, state and health system levels to ensure coordination and reliability.
Premier recommends a collaborative, hub-and-spoke model that leverages the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and a network of state and health system stockpiles to maintain inventories of supplies.
Many of our SNS and stockpiling recommendations have been adopted by the federal government. .
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases.
We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Survey Findings
More than two-thirds of senior living facilities told us in March that they couldn’t access the PPE they needed for COVID-19 containment plans. Nearly half (43%) had no history of purchasing PPE, which shut them out from traditional procurement channels.
In April, 77% of non-acute care providers were left with only one channel to acquire PPE: online retail. Even in June, 83% reported not having their PPE needs met by traditional medical-surgical distributors.
Survey Findings
Our June acute care member survey found that 90 percent of healthcare providers were contributing to stockpiles of critical medical supplies and drugs intended to last as long as 90 days.
Yet during this time, product backorders were inhibiting requests to replenish the stockpiles and provide timely care.
Action Taken & Results
Premier provided survey insights to the CDC and FDA. Within five business days, the CDC provided emergency use authorization for expired and industrial masks.
Premier launched a conservation education initiative. By March, 97% of members had implemented a PPE conservation initiative.
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases.
We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Survey Findings
More than two-thirds of senior living facilities told us in March that they couldn’t access the PPE they needed for COVID-19 containment plans. Nearly half (43%) had no history of purchasing PPE, which shut them out from traditional procurement channels.
In April, 77% of non-acute care providers were left with only one channel to acquire PPE: online retail. Even in June, 83% reported not having their PPE needs met by traditional medical-surgical distributors.
Survey Findings
Our June acute care member survey found that 90 percent of healthcare providers were contributing to stockpiles of critical medical supplies and drugs intended to last as long as 90 days.
Yet during this time, product backorders were inhibiting requests to replenish the stockpiles and provide timely care.
- N95 masks and bouffant caps (53 percent of respondents)
- Isolation gowns and shoe covers (49 percent of respondents)
- Testing swabs and test kits (40 percent of respondents)
- Surgical gowns (35 percent of respondents)
- Exam gloves (32 percent of respondents)
- Surgical masks (30 percent of respondents)
Action Taken & Results
Premier provided survey insights to the CDC and FDA. Within five business days, the CDC provided emergency use authorization for expired and industrial masks.
Premier launched a conservation education initiative. By March, 97% of members had implemented a PPE conservation initiative.
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases.
We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Survey Findings
More than two-thirds of senior living facilities told us in March that they couldn’t access the PPE they needed for COVID-19 containment plans. Nearly half (43%) had no history of purchasing PPE, which shut them out from traditional procurement channels.
In April, 77% of non-acute care providers were left with only one channel to acquire PPE: online retail. Even in June, 83% reported not having their PPE needs met by traditional medical-surgical distributors.
Survey Findings
Our June acute care member survey found that 90 percent of healthcare providers were contributing to stockpiles of critical medical supplies and drugs intended to last as long as 90 days.
Yet during this time, product backorders were inhibiting requests to replenish the stockpiles and provide timely care.
Action Taken & Results
Premier informed FEMA and the CDC of surge rates for N95s, masks, gowns, face shields, test kits and more, which helped them:
- project national needs,
- plan deliveries to hotspots, and
- adjust stockpiling requirements.
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases.
We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Survey Findings
More than two-thirds of senior living facilities told us in March that they couldn’t access the PPE they needed for COVID-19 containment plans. Nearly half (43%) had no history of purchasing PPE, which shut them out from traditional procurement channels.
In April, 77% of non-acute care providers were left with only one channel to acquire PPE: online retail. Even in June, 83% reported not having their PPE needs met by traditional medical-surgical distributors.
Survey Findings
Our June acute care member survey found that 90 percent of healthcare providers were contributing to stockpiles of critical medical supplies and drugs intended to last as long as 90 days.
Yet during this time, product backorders were inhibiting requests to replenish the stockpiles and provide timely care.
Action Taken & Results
Premier communicated to FEMA that long-term care facilities were not represented in allocations from suppliers or medical-surgical distributors, shifting the way FEMA calculated product needs.
Premier’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Team also created an allocation tracking tool, which helped Premier educate Senate Committee members and federal agencies on the inability for long-term care facilities and nursing facilities to obtain these products.
We engaged our public e-Commerce supply channel, Stockd, in supplier partnerships to bolster access to N95s, gloves, hand sanitizer and other critical supplies. Despite the supply chain shockwaves, pricing on stockd remained unchanged, as did our commitments to buyer protections and product reputability.
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases.
We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Survey Findings
More than two-thirds of senior living facilities told us in March that they couldn’t access the PPE they needed for COVID-19 containment plans. Nearly half (43%) had no history of purchasing PPE, which shut them out from traditional procurement channels.
In April, 77% of non-acute care providers were left with only one channel to acquire PPE: online retail. Even in June, 83% reported not having their PPE needs met by traditional medical-surgical distributors.
Survey Findings
Our June acute care member survey found that 90% of healthcare providers were contributing to stockpiles of critical medical supplies and drugs intended to last as long as 90 days.
Yet during this time, product backorders were inhibiting requests to replenish the stockpiles and provide timely care.
Action Taken & Results
Premier called for a national strategy that integrates stockpiling needs at the federal, state and health system levels to ensure coordination and reliability.
Premier recommends a collaborative, hub-and-spoke model that leverages the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and a network of state and health system stockpiles to maintain inventories of supplies.
Many of our SNS and stockpiling recommendations have been adopted by the federal government. .
Action Taken & Results
Premier provided survey insights to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. Within five business days, the CDC provided emergency use authorization for expired and industrial masks.
Premier launched a conservation education initiative. By March, 97% of members had implemented a PPE conservation initiative.
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases. We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Action Taken & Results
Premier informed FEMA and the CDC of surge rates for N95s, masks, gowns, face shields, test kits and more, which helped them project national needs, plan deliveries to hotspots and adjust stockpiling requirements.
Survey Findings
Our February member survey closed when the U.S. had just north of 200 cases, and showed 86% of health systems were already concerned about PPE shortages due to COVID-19.
17% of members’ N95 masks in inventory were already expired. Only 58% of health systems were practicing PPE conservation protocols, and 19% did not have any formal plans to conserve PPE.
Survey Findings
Our March survey was the first to quantify surge capacity and supply burn rates, by category, for the provider community, essential facts needed to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 cases. We found that utilization of key PPE, including N95s, surged up to 17X for hospitals and health systems caring for COVID-19 patients.
Contact us to learn more about Premier's COVID-19 response.
“Premier has been a strategic partner in our effort to deliver high-value care while achieving our long-term financial goals. We have built a healthcare system that puts the patient front-and-center with regard to every decision we make and every strategic initiative we deploy.”
Leaders who act now can be winners.
The key is to have a comprehensive margin improvement strategy that is focused on reducing variation and costs, while also uncovering new revenue lines to offset diminishing reimbursement. Premier’s five keys to maximizing value are essential to achieve systemic and strategic transformations; alleviate margin pressures; improve efficiency and productivity; and maintain high-quality care.
“Premier has been a strategic partner in our effort to deliver high-value care while achieving our long-term financial goals. We have built a healthcare system that puts the patient front-and-center with regard to every decision we make and every strategic initiative we deploy.”