In 2021, medical devicemaker Philips recalled 3.5 million ventilation devices after finding a defect that could cause cancer. 

Although expense management is always something leaders consider when managing ASCs, in recent years cutting costs has become even more important to grapple with ongoing supply disruptions, increasing costs of supplies and labor and decreasing reimbursements.

The Surgery Center of Fort Wayne (Ind.) has tapped medical supplier Medline as its prime vendor as part of a new, multiyear partnership. 

Ongoing economic struggles have forced ASCs to update their strategy — or in some cases, face potential closure. 

Geopolitical events have had major impacts on the U.S. medical supply chain in 2023 and promise to continue doing so in 2024, according to a Jan. 23 blog post from major supplier Premier. 

The American Red Cross said the U.S. is experiencing an "emergency" blood shortage as the number of donors has hit a 20-year low.

Large drugmakers including Pfizer and Takeda Pharmaceuticals plan to raise prices of more than 500 prescription drugs this month, according to research cited by Reuters.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, practices have faced a myriad of supply challenges, from rising costs to persistent shortages. 

A number of medical suppliers have been caught in fraud and kickback schemes this year, including Medtronic and Beach medical Suppliers. 

Construction of the largest ambulatory care center in the country is currently underway on the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento, Calif., according to a Nov. 7 report from the Sacramento Business Journal. 

House Republicans wrote a letter to the FDA seeking an explanation for ongoing supply chain issues and drug shortages, The Hill reported Nov. 3. 

Here are six medical product warnings and recalls that Becker's has reported on since Oct. 3 that ASC leader should keep an eye on: 

Olympus Corporation has issued a Class I recall for its high-flow insufflation unit UHI-4 used to facilitate laparoscopic and endoscopic observation, diagnosis and treatment. 

Seven drugs have been listed as in shortage since Oct. 9, according to data from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 

Baltimore-based medical waste disposal company Curtis Bay Energy has been fined $1.75 million for improperly incinerating waste, according to an Oct. 17 report from The Washington Post. 

Since Aug. 17, 10 major device and medication recalls have potentially put patients at risk across ASCs and hospitals nationwide. 

Three drugs have been listed as in shortage since Sept. 21, according to data from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 

Six drugs have been listed as in shortage since the beginning of September, according to data from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 

Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente health system has been ordered to pay the state $49 million to settle allegations of illegally dumping hazardous waste, medical supplies and patient information, according to a Sept. 9 report from CBS' Sacramento-based affiliate CBS13.

Medical supply giant Medline recently announced the addition of a $75 million distribution center in St. Peters, Mo., to keep up with a growing demand from healthcare institutions, including ASCs, according to a Sept. 1 report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.