About CIHL
The Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) is an industry-university partnership that leads a nationwide effort to identify and foster systemwide adoption of ground-breaking healthcare supply chain and logistic innovations. These cost-effective innovations can put the right materials in the hands of caregivers when and where they are needed. Research will target supply chain and material flow aspects of healthcare operations that can be addressed with better information and improved logistics systems and processes. The goal is to recover significant costs and achieve new efficiencies, while enhancing safety, quality and equity of patient care.
CIHL is a collaboration among researchers at the University of Arkansas’ flagship campus in Fayetteville, healthcare provider organizations, and industrial sponsors including Wal-Mart, regional Blue Cross Blue Shields, VHA, Procter and Gamble and IBM. The center, which began operations in May 2007, is housed on the university campus and has sustaining funding for at least five years. Dr. Ronald Rardin, who holds the John and Mary Lib White Distinguished Professor of Industrial Engineering, serves as the center’s Director. Dr. Russell Meller, who holds the Hefley Professor of Logistics and Distribution in Industrial Engineering, serves as the Deputy Director. In addition, nine other faculty and eight graduate students from the College of Engineering and the Walton College of Business have joined in CIHL investigations. The campus team is expected to grow.
CIHL shapes and fosters the adoption of healthcare logistic innovations by
• Highlighting and replicating proven “best practices” which already benefit some patients and providers;
• Seeking opportunities to adapt logistics and supply chain solutions from other industries to the healthcare arena; and
• Conducting center research to overcome gaps and roadblocks which prevent progress.
It isn’t enough for healthcare innovations to be created. To be truly effective, innovations must incorporate processes that healthcare facilities can adapt and sustain over time. For this reason, the center will focus on innovations that can be replicated and adapted to multiple healthcare settings. Training and other promotional activities are also planned to help make the business and healthcare cases for preferred solutions and facilitate their systemic adoption.