ASA’s dedication to safe patient care is steadfast. Our members work to provide every patient the best possible care, every day. ASA works tirelessly to support our members’ important work and to help them tackle the many challenges they face.

Our corporate relations program is an essential part of this effort. We work with corporate partners to make sure the needs of the anesthesiology community are heard and acted on. Because of our strong relationships with corporate partners, the organizations we partner with have a better understanding of our members’ priorities and challenges. And that sets our partners up to better support anesthesiologists.

One example of how corporate partners hear our concerns and collaborate with ASA to make care better is the approach Fresenius Kabi takes to address drug shortages. “We share ASA’s commitment to optimal patient care, and one way to meet that goal is by working tirelessly to help ensure that essential medicines are available,” said Lindsey Thomas, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Fresenius Kabi USA. “We take very seriously our responsibility to provide a resilient supply chain of care in America, and this commitment certainly extends to the anesthesiology community.”

Knowing our corporate partners are working to improve supply chains and address drug shortages is important, especially in recent years. Anesthetics were most impacted by drug shortages in the early stages of the pandemic due in large part to an increase in demand. These shortages have a real impact on patients’ lives.

So, what are corporate partners like Fresenius Kabi doing to address this problem?

In their commitment to provide products consistently and reliably, where possible, Fresenius Kabi is bringing the supply chain closer. The organization has made a nearly $1 billion investment in three U.S. plants and distribution centers so their injectable medications are produced and stored in closer proximity to the patients and providers who need them. This investment includes new automation and technologies for expanding production of products to meet the needs of clinicians.

“The world has been increasingly concerned about supply chains,” Thomas said. “We’ve been building new centers and modernizing and expanding plants for years as part of our long-term commitment to U.S. health care. More recently, to complement our capabilities and address recent disruptions in the supply chain, we’ve taken additional measures to ensure redundancy in the supply of raw materials as well as invest in additional safety stock throughout our network.”

Fresenius Kabi is also working to address other needs the society has expressed. According to Thomas, “The relationship between ASA and Fresenius Kabi isn’t about a single program or high-profile event. It’s the day-to-day listening, learning, and innovating that helps Fresenius Kabi most when it comes to enhancing the design of our products so they better meet the needs of providers.”