The Logistics of Resources That Are Constantly Being Resupplied

Running a healthcare facility, like a hospice facility, has several responsibilities. One of these is to keep an eye on resources that are constantly being resupplied, like oxygen tanks and wound care items. These resupplied items are vital for patient care and comfort.

Dealing with the logistics of these items can be a particular challenge. Not only do you need to predict how much of these medical supplies you’ll need, but you also have to take into account things like pandemics and tariffs that may affect costs and the supply chain. Understanding challenges in resupply as well as how to overcome them will help you keep your supplies stocked consistently.

Common Resupplied Items in Hospice

If you’ve been working in a hospice setting for a while, you’ve probably noticed there are a few resources that are constantly being resupplied. These may include:

• Catheters and related supplies

• Disposable gloves and other types of PPE

• Oxygen tanks and other oxygen equipment

• Incontinence supplies like briefs and pads

• Personal care products like shampoo and soap

• Syringes and needles for administering medication

• Wound care items like bandages, gauze, dressing, and tape

These resources aren’t just necessary for the health and well-being of your patients; they’re essential for keeping your facility running. If you’re dealing with poor hospice resupply management, it could disrupt your entire operation.

Challenges in Resupply

While it’s crucial to have good resupply management, there are many challenges in securing recurring medical supplies.

One of the biggest challenges is accurately predicting the amount and timing of these resources ahead of time. However, placing orders only when you need something can cause delays in patient care. Managers need to strike a balance between predictive ordering, or ordering based on what you think you’ll need, and reactive ordering, or ordering only when a need arises, to ensure patient supply continuity.

Another challenge is coordinating vendors. Most hospices rely on several different vendors for their supplies. Synchronizing these orders can get complicated, especially if you have to use multiple tracking systems. A DME management company with centralized reporting can help here.

If you have patients who live at home or in remote areas, getting supplies to them can be particularly challenging. Patients may have limited delivery windows or live in hard-to-access areas. For example, if you have a patient needing oxygen who lives in a rural area, you’ll need to coordinate their oxygen tank resupply logistics.

Build a Predictive Resupply System

For a predictive resupply system for your hospice facility, use past data to plan ahead. This reduces your reliance on reactive ordering and improves patient care.

Look for business management services that include software with inventory intelligence. This type of software can help you identify what you currently have and also make predictions based on past ordering habits. Programs like Qualis’ DME+ can provide you with tools like dashboards to track ordering efficiencies and unlimited reports to help you organize your DME restocking processes.

How Vendor Networks Solve for Gaps

Keeping track of recurring medical supplies can be incredibly stressful and time-consuming. Choosing a platform with a robust DME vendor network, like Qualis, can help.

Vendor networks help solve gaps in hospice resupply management in several ways:

• Reduce the risk of service disruption if one vendor is out of stock or has shipping delays

• Faster delivery options

• Ability to choose vendors that specialize in specific areas

• More leverage and cost control due to competition between vendors

Qualis provides access to hundreds of vetted vendors across the U.S., ensuring that you’re never left with gaps in your supplies.

Resupply Failures and Their Impact

Patients rely on hospices and other healthcare facilities for their care. When you don’t have the necessary medical supplies, patient outcomes may fall. Not only might patients and their families lose trust, but your staff might as well. Morale plummets when staff aren’t given the tools they need to help their patients.

This, in turn, can lead to difficulties for your business. Families may pull their loved ones out of your facility if they feel you can’t provide necessary care. They may leave negative reviews that dissuade potential patients from choosing your facility.

Unhappy patients or their families may also express their displeasure through Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) surveys. Specifically, it can impact categories like help for pain and symptoms, your facility’s overall rating, and how willing the respondent is to recommend your facility.

Best Practices for Success

The logistics of resources that are constantly being resupplied can be frustrating, but there are several things you can do to set yourself and your facility up for success. Schedule regular inventory audits and team training to keep everyone on the same page. Have supply chain protocols in place for various situations. Consider partnering with a vendor management company to help smooth out operations.

Tired of chasing down resupplies? Contact us today to find out how Qualis ensures continuity without chaos.