Unbalanced Supply Chain Disruptions in Healthcare: The 2024 Becton Dickinson Bottle Shortage

Drug and supply shortages in the clinical space pose a threat to safe, standard medical care. Even routine, everyday items used in clinical settings can be impacted by supply chain constraints, leading to significant disruptions in standard care practices at some healthcare facilities, while others remain unaffected. Responding effectively to changes in supply availability requires adaptive guidance, flexible policy, and reliable communication across clinicians, manufacturers, healthcare systems, and policymakers. In this session, Dr. Anuj Mehta, critical care physician and co-chair of the MPRDHRS Medical Advisory Panel (MAP), will speak on his experience leading the response to the 2024 Becton Dickinson blood culture bottle shortage which impacted blood testing capabilities nationwide. Early recognition of the shortage and its causes allowed Dr. Mehta and the MAP to rapidly develop and disseminate practical, real-time guidance despite ongoing uncertainty around resolution. This response aimed to support clinical partners to adapt quickly and consider modifications to standard practices ahead of formal national recommendations. This session will review the circumstances of the Becton Dickinson bottle shortage, the differing impact across the healthcare landscape, the strategies and guidance produced to support modified healthcare operations, and key lessons learned to strengthen preparedness and response for future supply chain disruptions.