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Healthcare logistics is one of the most critical parts of any healthcare organization, but it's also one of the most complex. For example, a hospital might need to move blood bags through its supply chain to keep blood on hand for emergencies; however, blood can only be stored at room temperature for a few hours before it must be refrigerated or frozen.
To get your head around this challenge (and others like it), having the right healthcare logistics partner on your side is crucial. You need a team with connections and expertise to get the job done. But where do you start? In this post, we'll cover the background info you need to manage healthcare logistics for your business or team and get some advice for choosing the right partner.
What Is Healthcare Logistics?
Healthcare logistics is the process of managing the flow of goods and services within a hospital, clinic, pharmacy, or other healthcare business organization. Healthcare logistics differs from traditional supply chain management in that it focuses on optimizing the transport of medical equipment, medications, and supplies in a time-sensitive manner. The goal is to get things where they need to be as quickly, safely, and efficiently as possible.
Healthcare logistics also differs from other types of logistics by factoring in issues related to:
- Human health (such as infection control)
- Security concerns (such as theft or unauthorized access)
- Patient care needs (such as temperature monitoring)
- Regulatory compliance requirements (such as privacy laws)
The goal of healthcare logistics is to improve operational efficiency and patient care. To achieve this, companies must have a clear understanding of how their resources are being used to determine which areas need improvement. This will allow them to make changes that result in better outcomes for both patients and the organization.
There are two main types of healthcare logistics areas to be concerned about:
- Inpatient logistics (or hospital logistics) are processes used by hospital staff and outside vendors to transport equipment, medications, and supplies within a healthcare facility. These processes include stocking patient rooms with medical devices or supplies from other departments (like labs or pharmacies or even the cafeteria)
- Outpatient logistics are processes used in clinics or outpatient facilities outside of hospitals, as well as in pharmaceutical businesses. These processes include ensuring medication is refilled before it runs out, stocking supplies, and providing equipment and medication deliveries.
Healthcare logistics are critical for patient care because they ensure that all necessary steps are taken to keep patients safe while they receive treatment.
Why Is Healthcare Logistics Important?
Did you know that in Canada, one in four seniors rely on more than 10 prescriptions at any given time? And that in the U.S., more than 45% of people take a prescription drug over the course of a year? This underscores how many people rely on medication and medical devices, making it imperative for them to be handled with great care when transported.
And if you've ever had a procedure, your doctor or nurse was likely using equipment delivered to the facility by an external provider. Without these materials and devices, it would be impossible for them to provide care. Healthcare logistics is therefore vital to the success of healthcare facilities and providers.
But healthcare logistics is not just about delivering goods. It’s also about ensuring that those goods are stored and distributed efficiently so they can be used in the best way possible.
Just consider the following elements affecting the healthcare industry today, and you'll quickly see why a solid healthcare logistics team is essential:
- Need for sensitive handling of goods and materials
- On-time delivery and temperature-controlled transport
- Complex inventory management, including managing supply in a direct-to-consumer environment
- Increasing demands for medical supplies from an aging population
- Increasing demands and amounts of personal protective equipment needed
- Increasing demand for online pharmacy ordering services
Healthcare logistics is an integral part of the more extensive healthcare system. Without proper management, there would be delays in treatment and access to medical care. But with these processes in place, patients can get their treatment promptly at all times. As you can see, logistics plays a key role not only for hospitals but also for other healthcare providers such as nursing homes or clinics.
Types of Healthcare Logistics Services
Generally speaking, healthcare logistics is the process of moving medical supplies and equipment from the point of origin to the point of destination. It involves the transportation of medical supplies, equipment, and personnel.
And if you run a healthcare business, you may already be familiar with the importance of medical logistics solutions. But do you know all of their different types?
To get you started, here’s a basic overview of some common types:
Example of Healthcare Logistics Services |
Description |
Medical courier services |
Medical courier services are used to transport patients and medicines from one location to another. They might also provide patient transport services as well as other logistical necessities in order to keep healthcare facilities running smoothly. |
Medical supply and pharmaceutical transport services |
Medical supply and pharmaceutical transport services help ensure that hospitals have access to everything they need for patient care at all times—and can get that material where it needs to go when needed most. |
Healthcare technology logistics |
Medical supply and pharmaceutical transport services help ensure that hospitals have access to everything they need for patient care at all times—and can get that material where it needs to go when needed most. |
How to Choose the Right Healthcare Logistics Transportation Partner
The best way to choose a healthcare logistics transportation provider is by vetting multiple companies and comparing their services. The following are some of the things you should look for when shopping around for medical equipment logistics and transportation.
When choosing a healthcare logistics partner, you should look for the following:
- Experience in healthcare logistics
- Solid track record
- The appropriate expertise and equipment
- Prioritizes customer satisfaction
- The right connections
Each of these elements are outlined briefly below, to give you a brief outline of what to look for in a healthcare logistics provider.
Experience in the Healthcare Industry
This will ensure that you're working with someone who understands how this field works and what your needs are. This is especially important for companies with a wide range of services, including warehousing, order fulfillment, and transportation. This will allow you to meet all of your healthcare logistics needs in one place.
A company with experience will help you avoid a lot of headaches down the road. You'll have someone who understands the industry and can advise you on how to best meet your needs. This can save you time and money in the long run.
What You Need: A company with experience in delivering products and services to the healthcare industry.
Good Track Record in Healthcare Logistics Industry
Before you choose a partner in healthcare logistics, it's important to verify whether they've been able to solve problems similar to yours before choosing them as your partner. If they have, that's a strong indication that they'll be able to help you with your own transportation needs. This can come along with a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
You want to work with a company who is constantly looking for ways to improve its offerings and make them more efficient. This will ensure that you're getting the best possible service at all times.
What You Need: A track record of success in providing transportation solutions to other clients in your area or region is key to healthcare logistics and transportation success.
Right Equipment and Expertise for Your Needs
Particularly for sensitive healthcare and medical supply transportation, the right equipment and expertise necessary for moving your items safely and efficiently is critical. If you're looking for a company that can provide safe and secure transportation for your items, it's important to find one that has the proper equipment.
This includes specialized trucks with temperature-controlled environments and other features that will ensure your materials don't suffer any damage during transit. They should also have a team of certified drivers who are trained in handling sensitive materials like yours.
What You Need: A provider with a range of equipment and expertise that can meet your needs without compromising on service quality.
Connections in the Healthcare Logistics Industry
Sometimes you need a full team of pros to help you get your healthcare logistics right. This is especially important when you need a range of services to get your healthcare logistics work done, and done quickly.
Moto has the connections and experience to ensure that your shipments get where they need to go quickly and safely. We can connect you with a wide variety of providers so if we don't have the right tools, we can still help get what you need done thanks to our extensive network and coverage within North America.
What You Need: A partner with industry partnerships and connections to get your healthcare logistics and freight shipping taken care of efficiently and safely.
Quality Customer Service
You want to work with a partner who will do everything possible to ensure that your needs are met and that you're completely satisfied with their services. They should also have an easy-to-use customer service portal where you can log in and track your shipments through every stage of their journey (this feature is especially important if you’re a small business owner who might have multiple shipments going out at once).
What You Need: A company that understands the importance of customer satisfaction.
Conclusion
We hope you have found this overview of healthcare logistics useful, and that it helps you make an informed choice when choosing a logistics partner.
And that partner? Look no further than our team at Moto.
We are here to help with a wide range of services, from cross border logistics to LTL and FTL shipping and other transportation and logistics services, we can handle your healthcare logistics needs with ease.