Hospital Materials Handling and Logistics Consulting
A Closer Look
Continuing pressures to contain costs have re-emphasized the need for hospitals to evaluate systems and procedures for the acquisition, handling, storage, processing, distribution and disposal of materials. Most often, a review of materials handling procedures and systems is initiated in conjunction with the construction of a new facility or a major expansion; but decision-makers are now realizing that the materials handling system is all too frequently an area in need of review regardless of planned construction.
Commitment
Lammers+Associates has a team of specialists dedicated to hospital materials handling. Our firm's has over 40 years of experience in both manual and automated materials handling systems. Whether new construction or existing facility modernization, Lammers+Associates realizes the impact that properly designed materials handling and transport systems can have on the overall effectiveness of support services within a hospital. Lammers+Associates is committed to developing systems that effectively and efficiently serve the hospital, contain and control costs, and have a positive impact on the hospital's bottom line.
Approach
Our approach is divided into two phases, evaluation and implementation. In the evaluation phase, we typically develop materials handling objectives; evaluate distribution or transportation systems with respect to identification of users, traffic volume, scheduling, and routing; develop alternative systems that meet the established objectives; and evaluate and recommend appropriate systems.
In the implementation phase, the specific requirements of the selected system are developed. The system requirements may include, but are not limited to, movement and volume schedules; traffic patterns; shift and staffing requirements; equipment and transport system needs (elevator, dumbwaiter, pneumatic tubes); and quantification and arrangement of space.
Materials Handling Consulting Areas
Materials Management
- Replenishment Systems
- Transport/Delivery Systems & Methods
- Supply Storage Requirements
- Dock Requirements
- Off-site Warehousing
Automated Systems
- Elevators
- Pneumatic Tube Systems
- Pneumatic Chute Systems
- VCS Systems
- AGVS Systems
- Box Conveyor Systems
Nursing Units
- Point-of-use Systems
- Clean Supply Handling
- Supply Staging
- Linen Staging
- Equipment Staging
- Medication Control Storage
- Soiled Item Staging
- Soiled Holding
- Trash Handling
- RecyclableStaging
- Soiled Item Reprocessing
Waste Handling
- General Trash
- Contaminated (red bag)
- Hazardous Waste
- Chemicals
- Recyclables
- Disposable Methods
- Soiled Linen Handling
- Contaminated Linen (RMW)
- Manual vs Chute Systems
- Off-site Transport
Pharmacy
- Medication/IV Transport
- Small Item Delivery
- Bulk Delivery
- Stat Requests
- Scheduled Delivery
- Controlled Medication Delivery
Stat Requests
- Emergency Department
- Stat Medication Receiving
- Stat Specimen Transport
Food Service
- Patient Meal Delivery
- Nourishments/Snack Delivery
- Late Tray Delivery
- Soiled Tray Return
- Loading Dock Food Receiving
Laboratory
- Specimen Transport
- Small Item Delivery
- Bulk Delivery
- Scheduled Collection