Logistics Management in Health Care: Evolution or Revolution?

Abstract

The development of logistics management in the business community in the past decennium has had a significant effect on capital expenditure, service levels and the flexibility of the enterprise. Industries have been able to cut down their inventory in all stages of both the production and the distribution process. Due to a substantial decrease in leadtimes, service levels have been increased and better possibilities are created for a flexible anticipation in the demand. Due to the need for a decrease in spending also hospitals show a growing interest in these new concepts. To some extent they can be adopted in health care. Hospital Information Systems can contribute on the application of these concepts in health care.