Understanding the Entire Hospital Supply Chain

A supply chain is a network of interconnected stakeholders and businesses. All of these players occupy different roles to achieve one goal; move a product from one point to another. In the End-to-End Supply Chain, this process covers the entire product lifecycle - from material procurement to the customer's hands.

The success of any supply chain lies in how efficiently these networks link with each other. An efficient network can reduce costs while improving shipping speed, without compromising the quality of the goods.

Logistics

Logistics is an essential component of the supply chain. Logistics is about planning and executing the complex transportation of healthcare goods. All these activities should take place while ensuring the security and safety of the inventory.

At the center of a supply chain is a dedicated logistics department. This department has to design and execute innovative ways to move products and information to suppliers and consumers in the healthcare industry.

According to Peter Reed, a Logistician, logistics includes all aspects of the product cycle. In food production, for example, all the processes that take place between "farm to fork" is part of logistics. 

But, it is important to note that the product cycle is not always linear. Applying reverse logistics methods, such as upcycling, reusing materials, and ensuring proper product disposal, can also play a role in reducing both your bottom line and your organization's carbon footprint. 

Efficient logistics management yields the most significant results. You can achieve this by unifying the business goals to form an end-to-end approach to delivering healthcare goods. Working while considering the success of the entire healthcare supply chain will encourage better collaboration between partners.

The Benefits of Investing in Healthcare Logistics

Investing in a more effective logistics system preserves product value while saving time and costs. If you are a new business seeking opportunities to grow, you must lay a strong logistics foundation. Your healthcare logistics management system should ensure product safety while increasing transportation speed.

Logisticians must also be able to deliver timely, accurate supply chain data to all parties involved. Providing visibility on healthcare goods as they move from point to point ensures product integrity and lays a solid foundation of trust between supply chain partners. 

Technological solutions, like live tracking, can enhance transparency between partners in the supply chain. Establishing open lines of communication and client support can also help you achieve this goal.

Also, shipping and delivery needs can vary from facility to facility. In some, the late delivery of essential medical supplies is not an option. When your customer has a patient in critical condition, and the product is life-saving medical equipment, timely delivery is paramount. An efficient healthcare supply chain can anticipate and plan for optimal shipping methods.

How to Carry Out Logistics in the Healthcare Industry

There is no doubt that innovation in healthcare logistics encourages the evolution of a different kind of value chain. You must reexamine the goals of the healthcare supply chain to favor a patient-centric model. As you grow, you can adapt to the needs of the agencies in the supply chain.

With this approach, you can improve patient outcomes while strengthening the objectives of the supply chain.

Some of the medical supply chain's biggest challenges include storage, product cost, time, distribution expenses, invisible cost, understaffed workforce, waste management, sanitation, product integrity, shipping, and managing physician preferences. It can be challenging to develop alternative solutions when you lack sufficient storage space and human resources.

According to a 2019 survey by Cardinal health, 42% of the respondents agreed that the supply chain work takes away too much time from patient care. About 45% of front-line providers agreed that manual supply chain tasks harm patient care. By rethinking the medical supply chain, we can reduce clinician burnout. Optimizing supply chain management processes enables health workers to spend more time with their patients and less time monitoring their inventory.

Surgical Product Solutions: A Seamless Health Solution

At Surgical Product Solution, we hold the needs of the patient close to our hearts. Our in-house logistics department works with different organizations to ensure that your patients get the product they need in time.

We have a patient-centered system that overcomes most challenges that face many healthcare organizations. We have a seamless inventory management system that complements our shipping and sanitation structure.

You can order your surgical and medical supplies at www.shopsps.com. We promise quick delivery and preservation of product quality. 

By identifying the inadequacies of the healthcare supply chain, we were able to design and develop a system that cuts costs while increasing delivery speeds. With our Stockhawk search engine, you can identify opportunities for cost-savings on premium products, order with same-day shipping, and create custom reporting on your purchasing patterns. 

Surgical Product Solutions allows facilities to save money, while also providing data that can inform future supply chain decisions. Contact us today to learn more about how we can provide value to your facility.