Bluesight Launches ShortageCheck to Streamline Drug Inventory Management

technology to proactively manage and forecast pharmaceutical drug inventories,addressing critical supply chain vulnerabilities in healthcare.">
August 20, 2025

New Platform Aims to Prevent Drug Shortages Across U.S. hospitals

A cutting-edge inventory management solution, ShortageCheck, has been unveiled by healthcare intelligence firm bluesight, promising to mitigate the escalating problem of drug shortages impacting hospitals nationwide. The new technology focuses on predictive analytics and real-time data to give healthcare providers crucial led time in addressing potential disruptions.

Addressing a Critical Need in Healthcare

the United States has faced a persistent struggle with drug shortages, a problem exacerbated by global supply chain issues and manufacturing challenges. According to a recent report by the American Hospital Association, nearly 300 new drug shortages were reported in 2023, a significant increase from prior years. ShortageCheck aims to lessen the impact of thes shortages, ensuring patients receive uninterrupted access to necessary medications.

The system integrates real-time inventory data, coupled with sophisticated predictive analytics and collaborative planning tools, to provide a comprehensive overview of potential supply chain vulnerabilities. It currently covers over 2,500 acute care facilities throughout the country.

How ShortageCheck Works

ShortageCheck continuously monitors more than 20 distinct market signals, including fluctuations in demand and potential delays in fulfillment. This allows the platform to identify early warning indicators of drug shortages,providing healthcare institutions with an average of 42 days – and up to 90 days – to prepare and adjust their inventory strategies.

The platform assesses several key metrics, including existing inventory levels, current usage rates, and days-on-hand, to provide a detailed assessment of the potential impact of each potential shortage.This detailed insight empowers organizations to prioritize their responses and coordinate planning efforts across different teams.

“Shortage management has been a consistently critical issue for our clients over the past six years,” stated Kevin MacDonald, CEO and co-founder of Bluesight. “When drug shortages appear unexpectedly, it forces teams into reactive mode, searching for alternatives, which ultimately compromises patient care. Our goal with ShortageCheck is to give hospitals the ability to anticipate and prepare for shortages, reducing costs and preserving valuable staff time.”

Feature	description
Real-time Data	Integrates current inventory levels from multiple sources.
Predictive Analytics	Forecasts potential shortages based on market trends and ancient data.
Lead Time	Offers up to 90 days’ notice of potential shortages (average 42 days).
Coverage Area	Currently covers over 2,500 acute care facilities in the US.

Did You Know? According to a recent survey by the Institute for safe Medication Practices (ISMP), drug shortages have led to an increased risk of medication errors in over 60% of hospitals.

ShortageCheck is the newest addition to Bluesight’s suite of hospital intelligence solutions, joining CostCheck, KitCheck, 340BCheck, ControlCheck, and PrivacyPro. These tools collectively aim to streamline hospital operations, lower drug costs, improve audit readiness, and enhance patient data protection. Bluesight expanded its offerings earlier this year with the acquisition of Protenus, a healthcare compliance analytics platform.

pro Tip: Regularly reviewing and updating your hospital’s drug formulary can definitely help mitigate the impact of shortages by identifying potential choice medications.

The Growing Problem of Drug Shortages: A Long-Term Perspective

Drug shortages are not a new phenomenon. They have been a recurring issue in the healthcare industry for decades, often stemming from manufacturing problems, raw material scarcity, or economic factors. Though, the frequency and severity of these shortages have increased in recent years, highlighting the need for more proactive and data-driven solutions like ShortageCheck. The reliance on single-source suppliers and complex global supply chains are contributing factors.Hospitals must adopt a multi-faceted approach to safeguard access to life-saving medication.

Frequently Asked Questions about Drug Shortages

• What causes drug shortages? Drug shortages are caused by manufacturing issues, raw material scarcity, economic factors, and increasing demand.
• How does ShortageCheck help with drug shortages? ShortageCheck provides predictive analytics and real-time data to help hospitals prepare for potential disruptions.
• What is the average lead time provided by ShortageCheck? The platform generally offers an average of 42 days’ notice,and up to 90,for potential shortages.
• What other solutions does Bluesight offer? Bluesight’s suite includes CostCheck,KitCheck,340BCheck,ControlCheck,and PrivacyPro.
• Is the drug shortage problem getting worse? Yes, data suggests an increasing number of drug shortages are occurring, requiring proactive responses.

What strategies is your hospital employing to mitigate the impact of drug shortages? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

How does ShortageCheck’s early warning system differ from traditional reactive shortage alert systems?

Understanding the Growing Challenge of Drug Shortages

The pharmaceutical supply chain is facing unprecedented disruption. Drug shortages, a persistent problem, are escalating due to factors like manufacturing issues, global events, and increased demand. These shortages directly impact patient care, forcing clinicians to spend valuable time finding alternatives, potentially delaying treatments, and increasing the risk of medication errors. Effective pharmacy inventory management is no longer just about cost control; it’s a critical component of patient safety. Hospitals and healthcare systems are actively seeking solutions for medication shortage management and proactive drug supply chain visibility.

Introducing Bluesight ShortageCheck: A Proactive Solution

bluesight, a leading provider of medication intelligence solutions, has launched ShortageCheck, a new feature designed to proactively address and mitigate the impact of drug shortages. This isn’t simply a reactive alert system; ShortageCheck aims to provide actionable insights before shortages impact your pharmacy. It integrates seamlessly with Bluesight’s existing platform, leveraging real-time data and predictive analytics to offer a extensive view of potential disruptions.

Key Features of Bluesight ShortageCheck:

Early Warning System: identifies potential shortages weeks or even months in advance, allowing for proactive planning.

Automated Impact Analysis: Determines which medications and patient populations within your association will be affected by a shortage.

Bright Alternative Suggestions: Provides clinically appropriate alternative medications,considering formulary restrictions and patient-specific factors.

Real-Time Inventory Visibility: Integrates with existing pharmacy management systems to provide a clear picture of current stock levels.

Customizable alerts: Allows users to tailor alerts based on specific medications, dosage forms, and severity levels.

How ShortageCheck Works: A Deep Dive

ShortageCheck utilizes a multi-faceted approach to predict and manage drug shortages. It doesn’t rely solely on official shortage declarations (like those from the FDA). Instead, it combines several data sources:

1. FDA Data: Monitors official drug shortage announcements and recalls.
2. Manufacturer Communications: Tracks direct communications from pharmaceutical manufacturers regarding potential supply disruptions.
3. Wholesaler Data: Analyzes wholesaler inventory levels and order patterns to identify emerging trends.
4. Bluesight’s Proprietary Algorithms: Employs machine learning to identify subtle signals that may indicate a future shortage,even before it’s publicly announced. This predictive capability is a core differentiator.
5. Global Event Monitoring: Incorporates data on geopolitical events, natural disasters, and other factors that can impact the pharmaceutical supply chain.

this data is then processed and presented to users through a user-amiable dashboard, providing a clear and concise overview of potential risks. The system prioritizes alerts based on the potential impact to the organization, ensuring that pharmacy staff can focus on the most critical issues.

Benefits of Implementing ShortageCheck

Implementing Bluesight ShortageCheck offers a range of benefits for healthcare organizations:

Improved Patient Safety: Ensures patients receive the medications they need, when they need them, minimizing the risk of treatment delays or errors.

reduced Clinician Workload: Automates the process of identifying and evaluating alternative medications, freeing up clinicians to focus on patient care.

Optimized Inventory Management: Helps pharmacies optimize their inventory levels, reducing waste and minimizing the financial impact of shortages. This ties directly into pharmacy cost reduction strategies.

Enhanced Supply Chain Resilience: Strengthens the organization’s ability to withstand supply chain disruptions.

Better Formulary Management: Supports informed decisions regarding formulary adjustments in response to shortages.

proactive Planning for Contingency: Allows for the advancement of robust contingency plans to address potential shortages before they occur.

Real-World Application: A Case Study (Hypothetical, Based on Industry Trends)

A large hospital system in the Midwest experienced frequent disruptions in the supply of intravenous (IV) fluids due to manufacturing issues and increased demand during flu season. prior to implementing ShortageCheck, the pharmacy team spent countless hours contacting wholesalers, searching for alternative suppliers, and developing workarounds.

After implementing ShortageCheck, the system proactively alerted the pharmacy team to a potential shortage of a specific IV fluid several weeks in advance. This allowed the team to:

Adjust ordering patterns to maximize existing inventory.

negotiate with alternative suppliers to secure additional supply.

Develop a clinical protocol for using alternative IV fluids.

As a result, the hospital system was able to avoid a significant disruption in patient care and minimize the financial impact of the shortage. This demonstrates the power of proactive shortage management.

Practical Tips for Maximizing ShortageCheck’s Value

integrate with Existing Systems: Ensure seamless integration with your pharmacy management system and electronic health record (EHR) for optimal data flow.

Customize Alerts: Tailor alerts to your organization’s specific needs and priorities.

Train Pharmacy Staff: Provide comprehensive training to pharmacy staff on how to use ShortageCheck effectively.

**Regularly Review Data