Lagerhanteringen på en operationsavdelning : Gävle sjukhus

Sammanfattning

Effective inventory management is an important part of a hospital's internal material supply, especially in the operating department, where the right material must be available at the right time. Well-functioning logistics does not only contribute to a high level of customer value. It can also reduce the organization's inventory costs and prevent materials from becoming expired. Inventory management of surgical materials in healthcare means a trade-off between reducing inventory costs, reducing waste and ensuring material availability. It is crucial because shortage of materials can lead to serious consequences for the quality of healthcare. The study examines inventory management in an operating department in Gävle hospital. The purpose of the study was to analyse inventory management in the operating department's internal warehouse to identify inefficiencies and risks to patient safety and administrative shortcomings. Based on logistics and lean principles, the study proposes measures that increase efficiency while taking patient safety into consideration. The primary data collection consisted of two semi-structured interviews, a web-based survey and an observation. The study shows that the inventory management and the material supply in the operating department in Gävle hospital are structured as a multi-step system. The main inefficiencies were physical warehouse structure, administrative routines, material availability, and standardization. The administrative shortcomings mainly consisted of unused competence, insufficient communication regarding material availability and inadequate system support for inventory control. All mentioned main inefficiencies and administrative shortcomings may have a negative impact on patient safety. Based on the main inefficiencies and main administrative shortcomings a three-step action plan was proposed. The purpose of the three-step action plan was to create an organized inventory management system through stabilization and standardization, visual order and safety, as well as automation and optimization. The three-step action plan was based on logistics and lean principles and should be implemented in the correct order.