New York’s Largest Health Group Joins IBM Blockchain Supplier Network

According to a Forbes report published on April 25, 2020, New York State’s largest health group with more than 800 hospitals, Northwell Health, has joined forces with IBM to join the latter’s blockchain network – Rapid Supplier Connect – to vet medical supplies from new suppliers to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

IBM’s Blockchain Network Connecting Buyers and Sellers

In a bid to better equip themselves to lock horns with the ongoing global pandemic, Northwell Health has inked a partnership with U.S. tech giant IBM to join its enterprise-grade blockchain network Rapid Supplier Connect.

Speaking to Forbes contributor Robert Anzalone, Phyllis McCready, Vice President, and Chief Procurement Officer, Northwell Health, stated that with the sudden surge in demand, the process of vetting new suppliers has become increasingly time-consuming. This has prompted the need for rapid identification and verification of medical supplies from new vendors.

McCready said:

“Northwell Health has had adequate supplies to protect patients and our staff during the increase in New York COVID-19 patient cases.”

Adding:

“It is through creating our own group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and supply chain, and joining forces with non-traditional suppliers that we have maintained an adequate stockpile of personal protection equipment (PPE) and other equipment and supplies, so we are pleased to join IBM Rapid Supplier Connect.“

For the uninitiated, IBM launched Rapid Supplier Connect last week to establish a bridge between buyers and new suppliers. The network, based on IBM’s existing Trust Your Supplier Blockchain Network, is providing services free of charge until August 2020 to eligible buyers and sellers in the U.S. and Canada.

IBM said:

“Suppliers and buyers currently joining the network include hospitals and other organizations such as Northwell Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider, and The Worldwide Supply Chain Federation, which is on-boarding more than 200 American suppliers from its 3,000 global community members.”

Using Blockchain Technology to Tackle COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced technology firms around the world to develop robust and innovative ways to keep the global supply infrastructure to keep moving.

BTCManager reported on April 8, 2020, how supply chain-focused blockchain project VeChain had partnered with U.S. startup Tricol Group to verify the authenticity of 200k KN95 masks.