MedFlow Clinical
The Medical Equipment Delivery Specialist

Advancements in medical research and technology are actively pushing the boundaries of clinical trials worldwide. The success of a trial hinges on the clinical research organization’s (CRO) ability to ensure the timely availability of the right devices and equipment at required locations. However, trial managers often face difficulties in identifying the appropriate equipment and effectively communicating device specifications, primarily due to limited experience. This challenge, compounded by supply chain bottlenecks, leads to significant delays and wasted money, hindering the progress of crucial procedures.

MedFlow Clinical, a global clinical trial supply specialist, effectively bridges this gap.

A single-source solution provider for CROs and their supply chains, MedFlow Clinical draws upon its deep-rooted clinical expertise and logistical capabilities to source and deliver medical equipment and ancillary supplies for clinical trials and medical emergencies worldwide. Its clinical experts collaborate with seasoned project managers and logisticians to effectively comprehend client needs and optimize supply chain processes for speedy delivery.

“What sets us apart is the way we bring together both clinical and logistical expertise.” says Chris Smith, co-founder and managing director of MedFlow Clinical. “Also, whereas most of our competitors only tend to serve the regions where they’re based, MedFlow is a more adventurous kind of company - we enable our clients to reach locations where they hadn’t before had a presence.”

Twin Expertise Driving Service Excellence

A small yet agile organization, a sizeable percentage of MedFlow Clinical’s employees are former medical practitioners. Strengthening its clinical expertise is Jay Matthews, Commercial and Operational Manager, who began his clinical career as an operating department practitioner, garnering extensive experience working in every specialty, including orthopedics and urology.

An enthusiastic participant in humanitarian activities, he combines his logistical and clinical expertise to help supply chain teams understand equipment requirements.

Stacey Ibbott, director at MedFlow Clinical, is a former paramedic and a medical repatriation expert with a deep understanding of the logistical environment in the clinical sector. She leverages her knowledge to ensure the speedy movement of the right devices and ancillaries.

With Smith at the helm, MedFlow Clinical leverages its team members’ collective knowledge and experience to perfect its approach to solving client challenges.

To bring a personalized approach to clinical trial supply chain management, MedFlow Clinical assigns a dedicated and experienced project manager who oversees and executes each clinical supply order and shipment, from start to finish.

Clinicians on the team advise clients about the right equipment to serve their purposes. To accurately identify product specifications and requirements, the supply chain specialists collaborate closely with clients and delve deep into their requirements.

"Often we’ll ask qualifying questions that no-one has thought to ask anywhere along the supply chain. We can then weed out and troubleshoot any problems very early on,” says Jay.

“Clients will openly admit how, by us being so proactive in this way, it saves them significant amounts of money and time… and also avoids a lot of needless confusion.”

A perfect testament to MedFlow Clinical’s robust capabilities is its engagement with a client that wanted to supply 10,000 first aid kits to Ukraine as part of its humanitarian initiative. “Our client told us”, Jay explains, “that no one else was able to put these 10,000 kits together.”

By contrast, leveraging its medical and supply chain management skills, MedFlow Clinical was able to assemble these bespoke kits for a war zone. It adeptly resolved size and quantity issues, collaborated with global suppliers to source the necessary items and delivered the vital aid within six weeks

Delivering Value Across Geographies

Operating as a global company with a wide network of partners, MedFlow Clinical is a trusted partner for supplying equipment to hard-to-access regions.

Its agile team has a deep understanding of device specifications and, through its logistics network, caters to many underserved areas. While Medflow Clinical wields its influence and expertise globally, particularly strong areas are Europe and Asia Pacific, the latter being a region where Western companies without strong local business relationships often fail to deliver.

The team personally meets its business partners before onboarding them. A dedicated professional is allocated to manage every approved partnership and develop the relationship further.

Its worldwide reach simplifies procurement for clients, eliminating the need to manage multiple suppliers across time zones and regions. MedFlow Clinical is breaking the molds of conventional supply chain practices where market players tend to service only the regions where they are based.

“With our offices in Australia, Ireland, the U.S. and the Netherlands, we punch well above our weight to deliver medical devices and supplies worldwide,” says Matthews. “We currently support over 86 clinical trials across over 1300 sites worldwide. For such a young company, that is quite an achievement.”

The relationships with top-tier freight forwarders and clinical logistics partners help streamline customs clearance processes. Ensuring local supply to sites and labs minimizes transportation costs, customs duties, taxes, and import and export requirements. With precise logistics coordination, delivery arrangements are carefully planned, especially for bulky or fragile items.

The preferences of sponsors and CROs are always considered when purchasing or renting equipment required at clinical sites and laboratories.

In one instance, MedFlow Clinical was engaged in a large clinical trial supply project where numerous freezers were to be supplied to locations in the Asia Pacific region. Initially, the team invested heavily in equipment following the terms of the agreement. Yet, when the client later opted for a rental agreement instead of purchasing, MedFlow Clinical demonstrated remarkable adaptability by seamlessly transitioning to this new arrangement, an uncommon flexibility in this industry.

Customer satisfaction is a top priority at MedFlow Clinical. With a strong appetite for growth and excellence, it goes above and beyond to address evolving client requirements and propel them toward success. The longstanding global client relationships it has nurtured over the years are the pillars strengthening its business. That, coupled with its brilliant team with their humanitarian mindset, helps it elevate quality standards and deliver high-touch services.

Looking ahead, MedFlow Clinical continues to empower clients to channel their energy into their vital clinical pursuits, free from concerns about supply management. Significantly contributing to the success of clinical trials will further cement MedFlow Clinical’s position as a dependable ally for CROs.