3 hospital supply chain directors explain how AI is helping them manage critical inventory
Briefly

Hurricane Helene's impact on North Carolina led to $59 billion in damages, significantly affecting medical supply chains, particularly IV fluids, and resulting in critical shortages in hospitals. These shortages caused postponed surgeries and treatment delays as hospitals struggle to maintain adequate inventory without overstocking. To tackle this issue, leading healthcare systems like the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and Rush University Medical Center are leveraging technologies such as AI, robotics, and predictive analytics to optimize inventory management and enhance their operational efficiency, thus addressing both shortages and waste effectively.
To reduce waste, some leading hospital systems are deploying automation and AI innovations to better predict and manage inventory, ensuring needed medical supplies are available.
Hospitals are challenged to balance supply and demand; predictive analytics and robotics help navigate these complexities while aiming to reduce waste.
In 2019, hospitals spent approximately $25.7 billion on unnecessary supplies, a situation worsened by disasters like Hurricane Helene that disrupt essential inventories.
Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and Rush University Medical Center utilize machine learning and AI tools to anticipate shortages and enhance their supply chain management.
Read at Business Insider
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