Uncertainty in Hospital Supplies—A Cardinal Error (C): Decision-Making as a Crisis Unfolds

This case set is about the unfolding uncertainty associated with a supply chain issue involving Cardinal Health (Cardinal), the primary supplier of surgical packs to Garfield Health System (GHS). John Jenkins, MD, the newly appointed chief medical officer (CMO) at a medium-size university hospital at GHS, must assess the issue and respond as Cardinal notifies GHS of potential contamination in the manufacture of surgical gowns. Cardinal initially notifies customers of a potential problem, and then over the next several days, releases more information, culminating in the recall of virtually all of its surgical supply packs. Many institutions, including GHS, are thus forced into a dire situation, resulting in some cases in cancelation of surgical procedures.

In the A case, Cardinal issues its first warning of a potential contamination problem. In the B case, Cardinal warns that only a specific set of surgical gowns has been affected. In this C case, Jenkins learns that all the elements in Cardinal’s surgical packs have been compromised. This case set could be utilized in health care courses or courses in business decision-making.