Rush builds resiliency and drives financial value

A leading academic health system, Rush University System for Health, took a proactive approach to strengthening operational resilience while simultaneously driving financial value. Faced with ongoing supply chain disruptions and increasing cost pressures, Rush partnered with Vizient to implement a reserve inventory strategy focused on critical pharmacy and medical-surgical categories.

Challenge

Healthcare systems continue to navigate supply instability, particularly across essential medications and high-use medical-surgical products. Rush needed a solution that would:

• Ensure continuity of care during shortages
• Reduce vulnerability to supply chain disruptions
• Optimize inventory without unnecessary excess spend

Solution

Rush implemented a structured reserve inventory strategy across six essential pharmacy and med/surg categories, selected for their clinical importance and usage. This focus helped prioritize critical supplies while maintaining flexibility and control over inventory levels.