Disruptions, recalls, rising costs, and data chaos have become constants—not exceptions. 2025 requires smarter sourcing, cleaner data, and stronger supplier accountability. Based on insights from top-performing health systems across the country, here are 7 mission-critical priorities that demand your attention now:
1️⃣ Control the Data—Don’t Let It Control You
Dirty data silently erodes supply chain performance. Incomplete item masters and missing contract info lead to delayed care, costly errors, and increased risk.
🔹 Enforce formulary-driven procurement
🔹 Require COO data from all vendors
🔹 Link critical items to vetted functional equivalents
🔹 Tie nightly FDA recall feeds to decision-making
✅ Clean, structured data = faster decisions + safer patients.
2️⃣ Diversify and De-Risk Sourcing
COVID exposed the danger of single-source dependency. 2025 adds new threats—cyber risk, geopolitical strain, and logistics instability.
🔹 Map supplier locations & COO data
🔹 Flag sole-source vulnerabilities
🔹 Build multi-source and nearshore strategies
🎯 Internal sourcing teams with real-time market intel will define the next decade.
3️⃣ Embrace Functional Equivalents
Continuity depends on substitution. Build validated, pre-approved options into your supply chain before a disruption hits.
🔹 Compare alternatives side-by-side with clinical validation
🔹 Store safe substitutes in your ERP
🔹 Train teams to act confidently under pressure
💡 Trusted alternatives = resilient procurement.
4️⃣ Reassess Every Contract
Think your contract is competitive? Think again. Many hide misaligned incentives and outdated pricing.
🔹 Benchmark against market trends
🔹 Store rebate details in your item master
🔹 Challenge what no longer serves the patient
📉 Negotiate like it’s your money—because it is.
5️⃣ Link Procurement to Patient Safety
Procurement decisions directly impact outcomes. It’s time to bring safety data to the forefront.
🔹 Review FDA recall rates, safety violations, and complication stats
🔹 Track vendors with repeat infractions
🔹 Align sourcing KPIs with clinical metrics
🚫 Would you use a product with 9 recalls?
6️⃣ Strengthen Recall Readiness
Recalls are up—and most hospitals are still too slow.
🔹 Ensure traceability from PO to patient
🔹 Stop bad products before they hit the dock
🔹 Store vendor recall history and response audit trails
🚨 Real-time recall insight protects the patient.
7️⃣ Build a Sustainable Supply Chain
Sustainability isn’t optional—it’s strategic.
🔹 Eliminate unnecessary single-use items
🔹 Prioritize ESG-aligned suppliers
🔹 Track reprocessing, emissions, and chemical data
🌍 Lead now. Regulations are coming.
After 25 years in this space, I’ll say it plainly: It’s time to break and rebuild the supply chain model.
✅ Clean data
✅ Functional equivalents
✅ Contract clarity
✅ Patient-first sourcing
Meperia is proud to partner with hospitals across the U.S. to deliver the tools and data they need to lead with confidence. No fluff. No facade. Just real data for real outcomes.
🔗 www.meperia.com
📧 lmcwhorter@meperia.com
📱 321.945.9513
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About the Author
Lee Ann McWhorter is the Vice President of Business Development at Meperia. Her primary goals are to reduce data error, reduce cost and improve patient safety in the healthcare industry. Lee Ann has worked with the founders of Meperia for over 16 years and understands the breakpoints in the healthcare supply chain and the need for unbiased, quality data moving forward. For more information about Meperia please reach out to lmcwhorter@meperia.com.