The Formula for Monitoring Supply: Data and Dialogue

Read time: 5 minutes

By: McKesson Health Systems Editorial Team

When the pandemic struck in 2020, it changed our traditional day-to-day interactions in ways we never expected. But at McKesson, we understood how important it was to make sure health systems received the right expert guidance—especially regarding the drug supply chain. Innovation was critical in determining how to maintain interaction with our customers remotely while also instilling confidence around ordering supplies with a clear sense of direction and clinically based direction.

Shifting Gears

While building on the foundational relationship dynamic we traditionally maintain with customers, we also took a more novel approach to manage supply by establishing McKesson’s Critical Care Drug Task Force (CCDTF). The task force includes a broad group of pharmacists, data scientists, and procurement experts with deep experience in hospital pharmacy operations and optimization. Trained pharmacists paired with 340B experts, and a host of other industry professionals, bring combined decades-long expertise and experience to provide the diversity of thought that is integral to helping our customers. The group comes together to answer big supply chain questions using real-time clinical research, customer feedback, and technology solutions.

How And Why It Works

There are two major components that have helped make the Critical Care Drug Task Force successful: data and dialogue. The main function of the team is to collect and analyze data in comparison to customer purchasing trends. Together, CCDTF members monitor medicines prescribed and anticipate demand across the pharmacy supply chain. The team reviews customer demand patterns and coordinates the forecasted supply needs with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Additionally, the task force keeps a pulse on medical literature to stay current with drug therapy changes. But the collection and monitoring from these sources isn’t all that’s needed to make this beneficial for our customers—the conversation behind the data is important, too.

Together, the team provides insight beyond a single point of view. Team members share learnings with health system customers to help them manage supply constraints, but the dialogue within that shared learning matters. The CCDTF serves as a voice for McKesson, and having open, ongoing conversations with customers helps to alleviate fears of inventory shortages.

A True Partnership

Since its formation, health systems have spoken about the impact of the CCDTF and what makes the task force essential for our customers and the significance of the partnership. Through the power of partnership, our experts strive to take a holistic view for each individual health system and apply advanced analytics to reveal insights and opportunities. The CCDTF is just one of many ways our team works to connect the dots between drug utilization and tangible solutions from across our enterprise and partners, health systems operations, and patient care efforts.

Contact us to learn how McKesson can help your health system achieve supply chain excellence.