Various material flows in hospitals. Managing, transporting and replenishing these materials require plenty of personnel resources, both in central logistic units (warehouse, pharmacy, kitchen, sterile centre etc.) and OT's and wards.

By redesigning logistical processes it is possible to save costs and working time considerably. The logistic tasks may be organized so, that major part is performed by support personnel, not by nurses. Nurses shall have more time to give care to patients.

1. Logistical planning of existing hospitals

• planning the logistical processes from supplier up to the point-of-care
• reorganizing logistics in wards

Examples

• planning and reorganizing logistics of three central hospitals
• planning and reorganizing logistics of two primary care hospitals
• planning and organizing of the logistic centre of a city hospital

2. Logistical planning of new construction or renovation of hospitals

• warehouse, transport, operations spaces and fittings
• calculating warehousing needs

Examples

• planning the logistics of a hospital extension
• planning the operations and space requirements of a central warehouse

:  Did you know?

How much working time does logistics take in hospitals?

For instance in hospital of 500 beds, more than 200 personal working years are spent for logistical tasks. More than one third of these people are nurses and working in OT’s and wards. The cost of logistic work (materials excluded) is in special health care hospitals appr. 20.000 Euro pro bed in year.

What kind of benefits can be achieved by developing hospital logistics?

By redesigning the processes more efficiently, can in good cases a sawing of 20 % in working hours be achieved. By increasing the share of support personnel can time of nurses be allocated more to care of patients.