Healthcare Logistics

Unlike clinical and administrative data, logistical processes may lack the benefit of coding standards and interoperability frameworks. Healthcare logistics processes remain under-represented in research and practice despite being foundational to operational efficiency and environmental performance. The lack of visibility and structured data capture in logistical processes can cause inefficiency, resource misallocation, delays, coordination problems, and reduced responsiveness. Logistical workflows are often fragmented across departments, poorly integrated into centralised systems, and dependent on manual tracking, siloed systems, and ad hoc decision-making. The logistics-specific processes in scope include patient or intrahospital transport, inventory management, equipment tracking, medication distribution, supply chain operations, waste handling, and billing workflows. Healthcare logistics is defined broadly as the coordination of resources, services, infrastructure, goods, and operational workflows needed to deliver timely and efficient care.