Rush University System for Health 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.

Contact our team

Success by the numbers

Essential products

$804,134
Inventory value
237,357 units
Projected reserved inventory

Essential medications

$18,798,329
Inventory value
4,112,418 units
Projected reserved inventory

Total value

$19.6 Million
Protected total essential inventory value