Inefficiency is a problem in any commercial environment and when it comes to running a hospital it is clear that wastage and any lack of management control can be financially damaging as well as creating a potentially poor customer service experience.
Finding initiatives and ways to implement controls across a wide range of services such as introducing an automatic pill dispenser machine into your procedures, for instance, is something that you should be striving for if you want to reduce inefficiency levels.
Here are some key inventory management tips to consider that should help you to meet efficiency targets.
Automated dispensers
Dispensing medications and various medical supplies at the point of care requires a robust set of inventory management controls if you are going to keep on top of stock control and costs.
Knowing what medications are available in each department and controlling their distribution is a challenge without having a set of procedures in place and some technology to help you control and manage these medications.
The challenges include achieving a way of securely storing sensitive medications in order to reduce the prospect of theft and loss and maintaining tight control of dosage data and billing mechanisms where necessary.
Using a technology solution such as an automated dispensing cabinet could boost your inventory management strategies.
Asset tags
It could be argued that tagging medical equipment is likely to prove a pivotal initiative in your attempt to automate your inventory management system and it is also an excellent way to improve your checking in and out procedures.
Tracking all of your medical equipment is a cost-effective strategy as it can be a highly effective way to virtually eliminate the prospect of loss and theft.
Using a barcode system in this way could have a positive influence on reducing your inventory costs overall and should enable you to see an uplift in productivity and staff efficiency levels.
Invest in technology
It is a financial as well as a logistical challenge to keep pace with changes in technology but if your software and inventory management system is past its due date that could be leading to some pressing issues that are eating away at your efficiency levels.
The aim should be to review the inventory management tools that you are relying on to run the hospital, including all the software and computer equipment that you are currently utilizing, and identify the key problems you are experiencing with these systems.
If your current software is unable to provide the efficient solutions that you seek and you are operating under limitations imposed due to outdated technology and software this is going to be detrimental to the hospital’s efficiency levels.
The people on the frontline who are using this software and technology on a daily basis will be in a prime position to highlight what the problems are and how it is hindering your inventory management performance.
Inefficiency is costly and a drain on your financial resources which is a big problem for a public service organization that is often operating within tight get restrictions, so look at these aspects of your inventory management and see if there is definite room for improvement.
