Paper is a new item to add to the list of global shortages resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The shortages have become increasingly more desperate with paper mills closing because of the pandemic, along with labor, transportation, and other supply chain issues impacting the economy. Intermountain’s Design and Print Center (DPC) and their approved printing partners throughout Utah are facing the challenges of this shortage. Production likely won’t bounce back until the end of 2023.
What the DPC is doing:
- Filling their storehouses with the paper that’s available.
- Finding paper substitutes.
- Collaborating with printing peers who are willing to sell any excess stock.
- Using a competitive bid process with their approved printing partners around the state to outsource jobs, when needed.
- Investing in new equipment that will allow faster and cheaper printing.
If you’re a customer of the Design and Print Center, you might see longer turnaround times and higher prices. Using the DPC will still guarantee printing at cost, with none of the markup pricing that other printers add. Plus, they’ll work hard to meet your deadlines and continue finding solutions that will work for you.
Here’s how you can help:
- Plan ahead.
- Order the minimum amount needed.
- Be flexible with paper types.
- Lean into other communication channels that don’t require paper, such as MyHealth+, emails, digital screens, or the new patient education tool EmmiEducate, when it’s available.
- Communicate with our printing staff to find a solution that works for you.