ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 global pandemic, over the last year and a half, has managed to create massive disruptions in global supply chains and exposed their vulnerabilities, thereby reemphasizing the importance of resiliency. The current study aims to identify and prioritize, through the quantitative decision-making technique of Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM), a set of barriers to resiliency for the pharmaceutical supply chain in India. The rationale behind choosing the Indian pharmaceutical supply chain was that the pharmaceutical sector in India supplies over half of the global demand for vaccines and generic drugs, and the trajectory of growth is indicated around US$100 billion by the year 2025, along with exporting pharmaceutical products to nearly 200 destination countries. The findings of the current study are expected to aid the decision-makers in evaluating the relative criticality and the interrelationship between the potential (and critical) barriers to supply chain resiliency, and in turn to develop strategic plans. This, in turn, can help to combat unforeseen supply chain disruptors such as COVID-19. This methodology and the findings of the study can be generalized for other supply chains. © 2023 K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective(s): Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) led to the suspension of in-person therapy sessions in March 2020 in British Columbia (BC), Canada. This necessitated the use of virtual visits, defined as face-to-face consultation completed remotely. Here we report the assessment of pediatric physical therapists and occupational therapists use of virtual visits, barriers to virtual care, and their perceived impact on completion of community-based hip surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey. Study Participants & Setting: All pediatric therapists in the province were invited to participate. The survey was emailed to approximately 130 therapists in June 2020 using known email distribution lists. Therapists were asked to forward the survey to colleagues. Materials/Methods: An anonymous online survey assessing therapists' knowledge and learning needs related to hip surveillance was completed as part of continuous quality improvement for the Child Health BC Hip Surveillance Program for Children with Cerebral Palsy. Questions related to the provision of virtual visits during the COVID-19 pandemic were included in this survey. Therapists were also asked to rate their confidence and satisfaction in using virtual visits, identify barriers to virtual visits, and the impact of virtual visits on completing community based hip surveillance. Results: The survey was completed by 64 participants (60 physical therapists, 1 occupational therapist, 3 duel trained). Respondents were from varied practice settings: 48% metro, 30% urban, 19% rural and 3% remote. Prior to the pandemic, 6% (4) of respondents reported using virtual health with 5% (3) reporting being very confident and 22% (14) confident in using healthcare technology. Since the start of the pandemic, 86% (55) of therapists have been providing virtual visits. Eight different platforms for these visits were identified. Of those providing virtual visits, 44% were satisfied/very satisfied with their experience in providing virtual care. Barriers to providing virtual care included families not being familiar with the virtual platforms (35), not wanting to be seen virtually (34), or being able to afford technology (26) and lack of wireless internet or poor connection (19). Additionally, therapists identified completing a physical assessment (12), privacy and security concerns (9), engaging the child and family (6), and their own learning needs related to using virtual care (3) as barriers. When asked how the pandemic would affect their practice related to hip surveillance, 65% (40) reported completion of the clinical exam would be affected while 25% (16) felt identifying children that require surveillance would be impacted. The most requested resources to support virtual visits were improved access to virtual platforms and online technology tools. Conclusions/Significance: Therapists rapidly switched to using virtual healthcare due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Less than half were satisfied with their experience. Reported barriers to virtual care suggest virtual visits are not always easily accessible for families. Practical tools and strategies to facilitate access to continuing care are required when virtual visits are required.
ABSTRACT
Multiple federal agencies, through Operation Warp Speed, continue to support the development and manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutics to prevent and treat COVID-19. As of January 2021, two of the six vaccines supported by Operation Warp Speed have been authorized for emergency use, and vaccine distribution and administration have begun. Effective coordination and communication among federal agencies, commercial partners, jurisdictions, and providers is critical to successfully deploying COVID-19 vaccines and managing public expectations, especially because the initial supply of vaccine has been limited. © 2021 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc.