Why supply chain resiliency is now a strategic imperative for health systems

Healthcare supply chains have always been complex, but in today’s environment, they’ve become one of the biggest determinants of operational stability and patient safety. Disruptions are more frequent, regulatory oversight is mounting, and staff are being asked to do more with less.

This blog series breaks down Clarium’s Health System Supply Chain Resiliency Playbook into practical, digestible parts for leaders across supply chain, finance, clinical, and IT. Each post will explore a building block of resilience, from evaluating platforms to structuring teams, and share real-world strategies for moving from reactive firefighting to proactive preparedness.

A growing problem

Every day in hospitals across the country, the same story plays out. A nurse walks into a supply room expecting to grab standard surgical gowns. They’re gone. No alert. No known backorder. The care team scrambles for alternatives, and patient care hangs in the balance.

Behind the scenes, supply chain leaders are managing a storm of spreadsheets, delayed ERP reports, and vendor phone calls. The data exists, but the tools to act quickly often don’t. Multiply that scenario across dozens of items and shifts, and it becomes clear: health systems are spending too much time reacting, and not enough time building stability.

Why now

The COVID-19 pandemic pulled the curtain back on deep supply chain vulnerabilities, but no one in the industry would say that things have stabilized. Today, volatility has become the norm: 

Health systems are experiencing 65 supply chain disruptions per week on average, according to Clarium’s network analysis.

Even as pandemic-era shortages ease, new pressures are rising:

• Geopolitical instability and climate-driven disruptions are increasing risk.

• Economic strain is forcing staff to do more with less, while still absorbing the brunt of disruptions.

• Regulatory scrutiny is turning resiliency from a best practice into a compliance issue.

• Clinical integration is now the gold standard. Aligning supply choices with clinical evidence reduces waste and strengthens provider collaboration.

Proof from the field

The good news? Some health systems have already reframed resiliency as a strategic priority — with measurable impact.

• A national health system recently faced shortages of critical items like EKG electrodes and arterial catheters. By treating resiliency as a system-wide priority, they reallocated inventory in minutes instead of days, ensuring uninterrupted patient care. Read the full case study →

• When Hurricane Helene shut down a major manufacturing plant for IV solutions, health systems faced looming shortages. With 74% of affected items having approved substitutes available, leaders were able to rapidly pivot and maintain continuity of care. Ochsner’s René Gurdián called the response a “game-changer” for visibility and decision-making. Explore the Hurricane Helene story →
  
  
• In a recent Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, health system leaders shared how they’re moving from reactive firefighting to proactive resiliency. From vertically integrating PPE manufacturing to framing of resiliency as a “non-negotiable insurance policy,” they underscored why resilience is now a board-level priority. Listen to the full episode →

The bigger picture

Resiliency is not just a supply chain issue. It’s an enterprise-wide challenge. Building a resilient supply chain means aligning departments, anticipating risk, and shifting from a culture of firefighting to one of preparedness.

For health system leaders, the path forward is clear: resiliency can’t wait. Those who prioritize it will be better positioned to protect patients, control costs, and navigate the volatility ahead.