The benefits of logistics tracking in hospitals: focus on parcel flow management
In a hospital environment where every minute counts, efficient management of logistics flows is becoming a crucial factor in ensuring quality care. Implementing a tracking solution such as Isitrac profoundly transforms the performance of logistics departments by enabling precise tracking of parcels, medicines, linen and biomedical equipment. Let’s take a look at how such a solution can optimize the management of parcels in daily transit within healthcare establishments.
The strategic challenge of hospital parcel flows
Every day, hospitals receive dozens, even hundreds of parcels destined for various departments: biological samples, specific medical devices, administrative material, or even one-off orders for patients. Without an adequate tracking system, these parcels can easily get lost in the hospital maze, leading to delays in care, financial losses and excessive mobilization of staff.
The benefits of a traceability solution for out-of-stock parcels
1. Real-time visibility
A solution like Isitrac instantly locates each parcel in its internal distribution chain. The logistics department knows precisely when a parcel arrives, where it is at all times, and when it is delivered to its final recipient. This complete visibility eliminates uncertainties and enables seamless communication with requesting departments.
2. Reduce losses and delivery errors
Electronic parcel tracking considerably reduces the risk of loss or misplacement. As each transfer is recorded, responsibility is clearly established at every stage of the process. Destination errors, common in large-scale operations, are also reduced thanks to electronic verification of delivery points.
3. Optimization of logistics staff working hours
The time spent searching for lost parcels represents a significant proportion of the work of logistics teams. With a high-performance traceability system, these searches become anecdotal, allowing staff to concentrate on higher value-added tasks. Distribution rounds can be optimized according to parcel location and priorities.
4. Improved satisfaction with clinical services
Reliable delivery contributes directly to quality of care. When a medical department is waiting for a specific device for an operation, it is essential to be able to guarantee on-time delivery. Traceability also makes it possible to proactively inform departments of any delays.
Extending the system to other hospital logistics flows
Although non-stock parcels represent a major challenge, integrating other flows into the traceability system multiplies the benefits.
For the medical products industry
The traceability of medicines meets the challenges of health safety and regulatory compliance. The system enables :
- Maintain the cold chain for thermosensitive items.
- Ensure batch traceability in the event of a pharmaceutical recall
- Preventing stock-outs in departments
For laundry carts
Hospital linen is a voluminous flow that benefits greatly from a traceability system :
- Optimization of rotations between departments and laundries
- Reducing linen waste, an often underestimated cost item
- Ensuring the availability of clean linens in care services.
For biomedical equipment
Biomedical equipment, often costly and critical to care, requires rigorous monitoring:
- Quick location of mobile equipment
- Efficient preventive maintenance planning
- Reduced equipment downtime
Measurable financial and organizational impact
Implementing a traceability solution like Isitrac generates substantial savings:
- Reduce costs related to losses and unproductive research
- Reduced safety stocks thanks to improved flow visibility
- Optimization of human resources dedicated to logistics
Conclusion: towards intelligent hospital logistics
The traceability of flows, and in particular of out-of-stock parcels, is part of a global approach to modernizing hospital logistics processes. Over and above the savings achieved, the entire care chain gains in efficiency and quality. Against a backdrop of budgetary pressure and increasingly stringent requirements in terms of quality of care, investing in a solution like Isitrac represents a strategic choice for any healthcare establishment concerned with operational excellence.
The digital transformation of hospital logistics is no longer an option, but a necessity to meet today’s healthcare challenges, where the responsiveness and reliability of support services directly affect clinical performance.