Rick Dana Barlow

Senior Editor at Healthcare Purchasing News

Rick Dana Barlow has nearly 25 years of professional journalistic experience, more than 20 of which have focused on healthcare operations, such as supply chain.

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Articles

AHA Recommends Steps for Congress to Take to Mitigate Drug Shortages

Feb 8, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Matt Mackenzie |Rick Dana Barlow

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has released comments made before the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means regarding chronic drug shortages in the U.S. They outlined three root causes for drug shortages and six suggestions for legislation to protect the supply chain.
Children’s Nebraska Expands Medline Partnership

Feb 7, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Janette Wider |Rick Dana Barlow

On Feb. 6, Medline announced via a press release that Omaha-headquartered Children’s Nebraska has expanded its partnership with Medline by awarding the healthcare supplier and manufacturer a laboratory prime vendor agreement. The agreement is an extension of Medline’s existing relationship with Children’s Nebraska—Medline has been Children’s Nebraska medical-surgical prime vendor since 2013. Children’s Nebraska is the only full-service, pediatric hospital and medical center in the state.
Domestic Production of Masks Fades

Feb 6, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Janette Wider |Rick Dana Barlow |Karen Conway

The Wall Street Journal reported on Feb. 4 that domestic production of protective N95 and surgical masks is now folding as hospitals are again buying from less expensive products abroad. The article states that “About 70% of the 100 or so U.S. mask companies launched during the pandemic have closed, according to industry estimates.
FDA Announces V-CHAMPS Challenge Winners

Jan 16, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Rick Dana Barlow

On Jan. 10, the FDA announced the five winners of the Veterans Cardiac Health and AI Model Predictions (V-CHAMPS) Challenge. A team of data scientists and clinicians from the FDA, Veterans Health Administration, and National Institute of Standards and Technology dual-anonymously judged the entries to select the winners based on performance of model predictions when tested with real-world data.
2024 SPD Department Of The Year

Jan 11, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Rick Dana Barlow

Healthcare Purchasing News exclusively has recognized and honored central service/sterile processing and distribution departments for over 30 years. Nominate your team for HPN's 2024 SPD Department of the Year award to be featured in the April 2024 edition of the magazine!Deadline: February 12, 2024Document your accomplishments and submit to [email protected].
Atrium Health Joins Medical Device Information Analysis and Sharing Initiative

Jan 4, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Janette Wider |Rick Dana Barlow

According to a recent press release, MITRE, an independent third party for the Medical Device Information Analysis and Sharing (MDIAS) Public Private Partnership (PPP), announced the addition of Atrium Health. The Charlotte-based health system joined the voluntary MDIAS collaboration between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and stakeholders across the private sector that includes patients, hospital providers, and medical device manufacturers.
Penn Medicine Researchers Develop New AI Tool

Jan 4, 2024 | hpnonline.com | Janette Wider |Rick Dana Barlow

According to a Jan 2. press release from Penn Medicine, a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool can interpret medical images that potentially could allow clinicians to dedicate more time to critical aspects of their job.
Keeping supply arteries clear and flowing

Dec 27, 2023 | hpnonline.com | Rick Dana Barlow

Handling material throughout a healthcare organization – whether housed in a storeroom, supply closet or warehouse – involves more than just managing, moving, storing and transporting products and equipment. The overarching process represents the circulatory system within an active facility whose clinicians and administrators require routine access to the necessary products and services to care for and repair patients.
Nursing Leaders Discuss New Prone-Positioning Recommendations in Hospitals

Dec 27, 2023 | hpnonline.com | Mark Hagland |Rick Dana Barlow

As a resource article entitled “Preventing Pressure Ulcers in Hospitals” and posted to the website of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) notes, “Each year, more than 2.5 million people in the United States develop pressure ulcers. These skin lesions bring pain, associated risk for serious infection, and increased health care utilization.
AI: Opportunities, threats meet, tease healthcare supply chain

Dec 27, 2023 | hpnonline.com | Rick Dana Barlow

To adapt a refrain from the cartoon philosopher Homer Simpson, “AI – the cause of and solution to ALL of supply chain’s problems.” For some (e.g., entrepreneurs, innovators and opportunists, etc.), AI represents shortcuts and workarounds to be more efficient at work and either enjoy more recreational time or focus on other expedient tasks courtesy of the additional time.