Case Study
BD deemed essential; remains operational amid uprise of COVID-19
ServiceRegulatory/Permitting Support
As one of the largest medical device companies in the world, BD (Becton, Dickinson & Company) plays a crucial role in providing solutions that advance healthcare. Though headquartered in New Jersey, BD has significant operations throughout the state of California and Northern Baja, Mexico. In 2015, BD completed the acquisition of San Diego-based CareFusion, which at the time was the largest acquisition in the company’s more than 100-year history. Through its acquisition, it has maintained a strong presence in San Diego, employing nearly 4,000 associates and continuing to actively participate in the local community.
With the government’s shelter in place orders surrounding the rise of COVID-19, BD knew it was an “essential business,” but needed verification that it could continue to operate. BD, through its diagnostics and medication management units, produces many solutions that are used by hospitals to treat critically ill patients, including many with COVID-19.
EDC was able to tap into the power of its network and serve as a conduit for BD to get the clarity they needed to ensure they could fulfill their mission to “advance the world of health” – in a time when the region, nation, and world needed them more than ever, as many BD associates are on the front lines helping hospitals and health systems deliver care to the patients and communities they serve.
Company
BD (Becton, Dickinson & Company)
Opportunity
As municipalities throughout the state of California began issuing shelter-in-place orders in mid-March, BD reached out to San Diego Regional EDC to clarify how state directives could potentially affect its operations in San Jose, where the first surge of cases surfaced in California. As shelter in place orders spread statewide, BD was able to call on the EDC to ensure limited disruption to its San Diego operations, which produces infusion pumps and medication dispensing technologies that are critical to intensive care units (ICUs), including temporary overflow ICUs that were popping up across the country. With the spread of COVID-19 to Northern Baja California, Mexican officials also began to issue shelter-in-place orders.
EDC SOLUTION
To help clarify guidelines and confirm BD an essential business, EDC was able to tap into its extensive economic development network in California. Through a connection shepherded by EDC, BD received written clarity that it was an essential business – providing the company with the necessary documentation from the San Jose Mayor and a County Supervisor to assure their workforce could safely and effectively return to work. Through these efforts, EDC was able to lay that groundwork to ensure that there was no disruption in its San Diego operations, as well.
EDC was also able to replicate these efforts a few weeks later, when it provided necessary connections to contacts in Northern Baja, Mexico, for BD to maintain its critical manufacturing capacity.
“Because of EDC’s ability to move quickly and connect us with key decision makers throughout Mexico and California, our facilities remained operational to support our mission to advance the world of health.” – BD
RESULTS
- BD was able to continue to bring critical products to frontline providers, including BD Alaris™ infusion pumps (through demonstrated medical necessity) and BD Pyxis™ medication management technologies.
- BD received verification from the Mayor and County officials in San Jose that it was an essential business, setting a precedent for continuity as Shelter in Place orders spread throughout California and Mexico
- BD was able to provide its valued employees and supplier’s employees with assurance that they were considered “essential workers” and provide necessary protections to return-to-work
ABOUT BD
BD is a global medical technology company that is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics, and the delivery of care. BD leads in patient and healthcare worker safety and the technologies that enable medical research and clinical laboratories. The company provides innovative solutions that help advance medical research and genomics, enhance the diagnosis of infectious disease and cancer, improve medication management, promote infection prevention, equip surgical and interventional procedures and support the management of diabetes.