The New World of the Patient-Centric Supply Chain in Diagnostic Testing

The impacts of the pandemic include shortages of critical supplies and delays in shipping that have affected every industry. The enormity of testing surrounding COVID has increased consumer awareness of both diagnostic testing for a variety of targeted screenings and general overall health benefits.

This fact is requiring that diagnostic testing organizations become much better at Supply Chain Planning. Add the complexities of different regulations in the EU market and the effects of Brexit and the whole picture becomes more complicated.

The old industry model was designed to push disease understanding, diagnostic information and tools, and treatment services or products to healthcare professionals and, ultimately, to patients. It is rapidly transitioning into an industry model designed around the consumer. Individuals now pull personalized information, tools, and products to their own doorstep.

A personalized pull model requires a completely new supply chain configured more like a network with the patient at the center. Partnering with an experienced outsourced fulfillment supplier can help with speed-to-market of test kits, the handling of complex shipping requirements, and ensuring timeliness and accuracy of an organization's product to its customer.

The end result is increased efficiency, lower costs, higher customer satisfaction and greater overall performance.

Brian Butler is the VP Business Development of The Allied Group and TAGmedica. He is also the author of two books: Find 'Em Get 'Em Keep 'Em and the recently released In Search Of...Customers!