TY - JOUR
T1 - Identifying logistical parameters in hospitals
T2 - Does literature reflect integration in hospitals? A scoping study
AU - van der Ham, Annelies
AU - Boersma, Henri
AU - van Raak, Arno
AU - Ruwaard, Dirk
AU - van Merode, Frits
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2018.
PY - 2019/8
Y1 - 2019/8
N2 - In order to improve the quality and efficiency of hospitals, they can be viewed as a logistical system in which integration is a critical factor for performance. This paper describes the results of a scoping study that identifies the logistical parameters mentioned in international research on hospitals and indicates whether literature reflects system integration. When subsystems collaborate in order to accomplish the task of the entire organization, there is integration. A total number of 106 logistical parameters are identified in our study. In addition, the flow type - patients, materials and staff - and hospital subsystems were registered. The results presented in international literature show that logistics is highly fragmented in hospitals. Studies also show integration, although this takes place mainly within the subsystems of hospitals. A multi-agent perspective on hospitals is proposed, following the view that both integration and differentiation are essential for effective organizational performance. Given the widely recognised importance of controlling hospital costs and the potential of logistics to help in this process, it is important to gain more knowledge of hospitals as network organizations, as well as knowledge regarding the degree of integration and the logistical parameters that are required for better hospital performance.
AB - In order to improve the quality and efficiency of hospitals, they can be viewed as a logistical system in which integration is a critical factor for performance. This paper describes the results of a scoping study that identifies the logistical parameters mentioned in international research on hospitals and indicates whether literature reflects system integration. When subsystems collaborate in order to accomplish the task of the entire organization, there is integration. A total number of 106 logistical parameters are identified in our study. In addition, the flow type - patients, materials and staff - and hospital subsystems were registered. The results presented in international literature show that logistics is highly fragmented in hospitals. Studies also show integration, although this takes place mainly within the subsystems of hospitals. A multi-agent perspective on hospitals is proposed, following the view that both integration and differentiation are essential for effective organizational performance. Given the widely recognised importance of controlling hospital costs and the potential of logistics to help in this process, it is important to gain more knowledge of hospitals as network organizations, as well as knowledge regarding the degree of integration and the logistical parameters that are required for better hospital performance.
KW - hospital
KW - integration
KW - logistics
KW - scoping study
KW - supply chain management
KW - SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
KW - PATIENT FLOW LOGISTICS
KW - HEALTH-CARE-DELIVERY
KW - JOURNEY
KW - IMPACT
U2 - 10.1177/0951484818813488
DO - 10.1177/0951484818813488
M3 - (Systematic) Review article
C2 - 30463453
SN - 0951-4848
VL - 32
SP - 158
EP - 165
JO - Health Services Management Research
JF - Health Services Management Research
IS - 3
ER -