From Operations to Clinical Safety: How Healthcare Supply Chain Has Evolved Over Two Decades
PUBLICATIONS
Every once in a while someone asks, “Are you the same Allison Corry who co-authored that healthcare supply chain book on my office bookshelf?” Honestly, it still makes me laugh.
It’s been about 20 years since Optimize Your Healthcare Supply Chain Performance was published. At the time, authoring it was a huge career milestone for me. I was early in my leadership journey, deep in the weeds of supply chain transformation, and genuinely obsessed with how supply chain functions connect with other operations.
Since 2006, what’s evolved?
Supply chain is now ALSO clinical safety function
Prevalence of AI, automation, RFID, IoT… the tech leap is massive
Resilience is now a KPI, not a buzzword
Value‑based care changed the economics
Workforce realities reshaped how our teams operate
In 2026, what still holds true?
Supply chain is a strategic (not back office operational) function
Standardization generates value and improves operational efficiency - which I today would say as... reduces unnecessary variation / utilization management
Strong supplier partnerships beat transactional buying/sourcing/contracting
Data visibility is the backbone of good decisions
Jerry & Allison posing with the book at the 2016 ACHE Conference. The AHA Publications hosted a book signing for the 10 year publication anniversary.