PRODUCTS & SERVICES “In the trucking space, in-transit risks to
the safety and integrity of pharmaceutical and other products that impact the lives and well- being of patients remain the highest priority,” he said. “Healthcare provid- ers must be absolutely certain that the medicines and therapies they admin- ister have not been com-
Ron Devitt
promised in any way. They count on pharmaceutical shippers to have processes in place that enable real-time reporting and monitoring to confirm that the product’s integrity has remained in compliance throughout its journey. They need to be informed of potential in-transit issues in real-time. This enables shippers to
immediately respond to loss or delays in a proactive versus reactive way.” Devitt contends that in-transit monitor- ing and Real-Time Transportation Visibility (RTTV) provide critical and actionable information in several key areas: 1. Alerts about seals or locks that have been broken and tampered with, as these breaches can compromise the product and patient safety. 2. Real-time alerts about temperature excursions, drivers veering off pre- planned transit routes and other trig- gering events, and arming shippers and receivers alike to put their back-up plan into action. This could include when and how to offer alternative expedited ship- ping modes and plans for immediately shipping replacements for compromised
product(s) through qualified carriers and drivers that follow stringent protocols and provide real-time updates. Having plans for immediate access to expedited services for lifesaving medicine also applies to highly demanded products that are pushed through as quickly as possible, and expediting ground ship- ments for life science products that have been delayed due to ocean ship delays, which have continued to be problematic in the post-pandemic era. “Healthcare logistics professionals will
benefit by taking advantage of real-time technologies that enhance accountabil- ity, monitor and protect product integ- rity, and enable faster, more proactive responses when things go wrong,” he concluded. HPN
Freight, shipping costs can be
embedded, hidden, needlessly high What may motivate transparency, visibility within supply chain? by Rick Dana Barlow
When it comes to freight and shipping costs, healthcare organizations may suspect or even know they’re high, if not excessive, but some lack the urgency to fix until the C-suite pushes Supply Chain to cut labor costs and non-salary expenses to accommodate slashed budgets or determine on their own that freight and ship- ping charges have been needlessly excessive. Others, however, maintain nonchalance until
poked and prodded to action. So how might Supply Chain take the lead in managing and reducing healthcare organizational freight and shipping expenses more seriously? What positive and proactive incentives exist? Nine distribution, logistics and supply chain services executives provide possibilities.
Emily Gallo, Cardinal Health OptiFreight Logistics
“It’s inspiring to see how freight management has become an increasingly important facet of global supply chain. There are a few best practices that come to mind for how health- care organizations can be more effective and efficient when it comes to freight man- agement. A third-party freight management provider can help health systems follow these best practices. The first is mode optimization and determining which service level is the most cost-effective and efficient way to ship a package and ensure it arrives on time. User compliance is also extremely important – are your employees considering mode optimiza-
tion with each shipment? There’s often a lot of opportunity for training and education – a third-party freight management provider can act as an extension of your team, in this case acting to drive positive change from within. “Additionally, healthcare organizations can prioritize supplier connections and compli- ance – and a third-party freight management provider can help you effectively manage action and value with external stakeholders like suppliers. Working with suppliers involves many steps, including establishing an initial connection with all suppliers, educating them on your program, getting the suppliers to par- ticipate and then monitoring to ensure they’re adhering to the contract and charges correctly. A third-party freight management provider can manage suppliers on behalf of the healthcare provider, resulting in significant lift being taken off the supply chain team. We’ve found that when these best practices are demonstrated and value is derived, it’s a motivator for health systems to adopt.”
Mike DeSimpelaere, Cardinal Health at-Home Solutions
“Focus is the easiest way to define this – treat freight and shipping management just as you would patient care. Prioritize creating strong teams and strategies around supply chain, particularly freight, and take more control and ownership of your freight. Historically, many organizations have allowed suppliers to own
36 August 2023 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
hpnonline.com
freight management, which has not allowed for the flexibility needed during disruptions. You can partner with 3PL or freight manage- ment solutions to help prioritize deliveries and get ahead of delays.”
Derrek Seif, VPL
“Supply chains need data to understand what’s happening and where they can improve, but they don’t always have the budget for a sig- nificant investment in vendor solutions. What our customers have appreciated is that we’re able to guarantee them savings, but also give them access to that data without an additional charge. They’re able to find savings now, but also get on a path to become more resilient. “Healthcare organizations can enhance their
operations by partnering with industry experts who can guide them through the complexities of the freight management process and provide guidance to reduce one-day shipments, reduce unnecessary fees, and ensure more suppliers comply with the program based on industry benchmarks. VPL, for instance, provides a comprehensive suite of products designed to optimize inbound freight management, outbound shipping and tracking, real-time inbound visibility, as well as analytics and data visualization. “VPL’s inbound freight management solution
offers a carrier-agnostic, full-service approach to manage inbound parcels and less-than- truckload (LTL) shipments. This allows health
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