For Jeremy Strong, Chicago-based Rush University System for Health's vice president for supply chain operations, the ability to affect both patients and the community is one of the most rewarding parts of hospital supply chain.

Cepheid, a medical device and biotech company based in Sunnyvale, Calif., plans to lay off 686 workers by June 20, according to notices filed with the state.

The American Hospital Association argues that the healthcare supply chain is not going to be back to "normal" anytime soon, despite estimates that still project its growth.

Pluvicto, a prostate cancer drug manufactured by Novartis, approved by the FDA in March 2022, has been in short supply for several months due to issues with delivery and manufacturing — but the shortage may be ending, according to NBC News.

Avanos Medical recalled 1,000 catheters April 21 with a Class I warning, the most serious type, because of cracked parts that can increase the risk of delayed or prevented ventilation. One death and four injuries have been reported.

The FDA updated its usage recommendations for a surgical N95 respirator manufactured by O&M Halyard April 21. The respirator is one of several masks and respirators the agency flagged quality concerns about earlier this month. 

Medline secured another health system deal April 19, this time with Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System. 

Fresenius Kabi USA recalled 1,546 large infusion pumps in a Class I recall, the most serious type, because of a risk of leaking products entering the electrical system and shutting down the device. 

WellSpan's York (Pa.) Hospital has partnered to turn its plastic waste into concrete, which it will use on its next expansion, ABC affiliate WHTM reported April 19.

Global Healthcare Exchange has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Prodigo Solutions, a supply chain and data enablement technology company based in Pittsburgh.

Less than half of health systems integrate clinicians into supply chain work, and this is barring hospitals from smoothening bumps in their supply chains, according to an April 13 post from McKinsey & Co.

The FDA posted an alert April 13 over Philips Respironics' website's claim of shipping 2.46 million "new replacement devices and repair kits" after a summer 2021 recall involving millions of respirators, CPAP and BiPAP machines. 

The FDA warned healthcare professionals and the public to not use surgical N95 respirators manufactured by O&M Halyard and said to be cautious when using some of the company's surgical and pediatric face masks. 

Global Healthcare Exchange named 87 healthcare supplier and provider organizations to the 2022 GHX Millennium Club.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency benchmarked $2.64 million for Danbury (Conn.) Hospital to reimburse supply costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and "providing food delivery for hospital staff unable to leave the facility during self-quarantine/isolation."

DCH Health System, based in Tuscaloosa, Ala., chose Medline as its primary distribution partner April 11 after working with another company for about 20 years. 

Calvin Wright, senior vice president of supply chain at Texas-based Houston Methodist, prides himself on investing in front-line workers and local businesses. 

In recent months, Medline has penned deals with school districts, Boston's Mass General Brigham and six other systems. Here's the team leading the medical supply company: 

Philips is recalling 1,088 reworked CPAP and BiPAP machines used for sleep apnea due to the potential for inaccurate or insufficient treatment. 

Days after medical device company Abbott issued a voluntary safety warning for its glucose monitoring devices, the FDA published a recall note April 6 stating that more than 4 million of the company's FreeStyle Libre readers may be prone to an issue with the lithium-ion battery that can cause extreme cases of overheating.