GAP Analysis

 Title      Author Date  Source  Type
Measuring the Gap between Healthcare and Retail in Supply Chain Best Practices E. Pohl, M. Rossetti, V. Varghese and H. Nachtmann Aug-12 Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics Unrefereed Publications and Proceedings

Please e-mail ducote@uark.edu for a copy of the report. 

 

Cost and Quality

Title     Authors         Date   Source     Type
AHRMM-CIHL Press Release H. Nachtmann and E. Pohl  Jun-09 Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics, AHRMM  Unrefereed Publications and Proceedings
Click Here to View Press Release
Title         Authors     Date Source Type
The State of Healthcare Logistics Report H. Nachtmann and E. Pohl Jul-09 Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics, AHRMM Unrefereed Publications and Proceedings
Abstract

 

The State of Healthcare Logistics: Cost and Quality Improvement Opportunities
report provides an industry-wide look into the current state of the healthcare supply chain. We hope this insight will serve as a catalyst to further collaboration among healthcare supply chain practitioners and stakeholders for the purpose of logistic cost efficiency and quality improvement.

Click Here to View Publication
 Title  Author       Date  Source   Type
GLN Adoption Survey
 H. Nachtmann and E. Pohl Nov-10
Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics, AHRMM, HIGPA
 Unrefereed Publications and Proceedings
Click Here to View Publication
 Title       Authors       Date  Source  Type
AHRMM-CIHL-HIGPA Press Release
 H. Nachtmann and E. Pohl
Dec-10  
Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics, AHRMM, HIGPA Unrefereed Publications and Proceedings 
 Click Here to View Press Release

 

Data Standards   

Title      Authors     
Date
Source
Type
CIHL-WRMC Medsurg Report     
Prof. Ronald Rardin; Prof. Nebil Buyurgan; Raja Jayaraman; Vijith Varghese; Angelica Burbano; Ashraf Hajiyev, Nabil Lehlou; Jennifer Pazour
 Jan-11  CIHL       White Paper
Abstract
 

This report summarizes the data standards adoption pilot project conducted by Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) at Washington Regional Medical Center (WRMC), acute care medical center located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The pilot project involved the study, design, test, and evaluation of GS1 data standards adoption over a sample of products and locations at WRMC.
 
 
Please e-mail ducote@uark.edu  for a copy of the report
Title 
Authors
Date 
Source 
Type 
Pharmacy Data Standards Project Final Report     
Jennifer Pazour; Nabil Lehlou; Vijith Varghese; Lisa M. Thomas; Prof. Ronald Rardin; Prof. Nebil Buyurgan; Raja Jayaraman
Jan-11
CIHL
White Paper
Abstract
 

The Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) Data Standards project aims to improve healthcare supply chains by fostering hospital provider adoption of GS1 global data standards for item and location identification. CIHL partnered with hospital groups, one of which is Washington Regional Medical Center (WRMC) and studied, designed, pilot tested and evaluated how pilot sites can best become early GS1 adopters. This report focuses on what the CIHL team learned in terms of GS1 standards and pharmacy operations. It provide a background on our study methodology, process and technology, and GS1 standards. The report also describes the improvement opportunities that we have identified and our recommendations. Identified benefits of GS1 standards, the implementation issues and recommended best practices are also discussed.

Please e-mail ducote@uark.edu  for a copy of the report
Title     Authors        Date   Source     Type
Reducing Healthcare Costs with Supply Chain Best Practices: How Standardized Data Capture Saves Rime and Improves Care    2010 Motorola Leadership Series White Paper White Paper
Abstract
Title     Authors         Date Source Type
Revised Process and Information flow Report (Level-2)
Jul-09
White Paper
Abstract
Title     Authors Date Source Type
GS1 Data Standards Provider Pilot Project Process and Information Flow Analysis Washington Regional Medical Center Prof. Ronald Rardin; Prof. Nebil Buyurgan; Raja Jayaraman; Edosa Aibangbee; Angelica Burbano; Ashraf Hajiyev, Jennifer Pazour; Lisa Thomas Jun-09 CIHL
 White Paper
Abstract
 

This document is the first report prepared by the Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) research team as a part of GS1 data standards provider pilot project in collaboration with the Washington Regional Medical Center (WRMC). This project aims to foster widespread healthcare provider adoption of GS1 identification standards by collaborating with selected hospital groups to design, pilot-test, and evaluate procedures that will enable providers to become early adopters of the standards, including estimating the associated costs and gains in process effectiveness and patient care/safety.

Please e-mail ducote@uark.edu  for a copy of the report

Title     Authors Date Source Type
Data Standards in Healthcare Supply Chain Operations
 Raja Jayaraman; Prof. Ronald Rardin; Prof. Nebil Buyurgan; Vijith Varghese; Angelica Burbano; Jennifer Pazour; Nabil Lehlou; Ashraf Hajiyev; Danny Dixon
 Mar-11 CIHL
 White Paper
Abstract
 

This paper presents the challenges and benefits associated with adoption of healthcare supply chain data standards in a hospital environment. In a highly fragmented industry like healthcare with several stakeholders, the adoption and use of common data standards for identifying delivery locations and products is critical. Common data standards ensure system wide interoperability and visibility across the supply chain, contributing to improvements in patient safety and streamlined internal and external supply chain operations. However, the global healthcare industry has been significantly slow in adopting data standards in comparison to other industries like retail, manufacturing. We dis- cuss the results from data standard adoption pilot project conducted by Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL), University of Arkansas at Washington Regional Medical Center, a 325 bed not-for-profit hospital in Fayet- teville, Arkansas. CIHL data standards pilot involved studying the existing supply chain processes, design, pilot-test, and evaluation of GS1 data standards adoption over a sample of products and a single delivery location at the hospi- tal. We present the results, which demonstrate the capabilities of systemwide improvements and roadblocks likely to be encountered. Findings from the pilot can be expanded to develop a broad implementation plan of data standards adoption for healthcare providers.

Please e-mail ducote@uark.edu  for a copy of the report

 

Home Health

Title Authors Date Source Type
Characterizing the Home Healthcare Supply Chain Phase 1 Project
 A. Bennett and S. Mason Jul-11 Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics
Unrefereed Publications and Proceedings
Click Here to View Press Release

 

Unit Dose

Title     Authors         Date       Source     Type
RS 08-01:  CIHL Survey of Hospital Pharmacy Directors — Final Results on the Current State of the Unit Dose and Bedside Barcode-Enabled Dispensing Practice Pazour, J. A., Root, S. E., Meller, R. D., Mason, S. J., and Thomas, L. M.   Dec-08 Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) Unrefereed Publications and Proceedings
Abstract


The Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) at the University of Arkansas conducts focused healthcare research to adapt logistics and supply chain solutions from other industries to improve healthcare delivery. One of CIHL’s 2008 research projects focuses on unit dose medication packaging and repackaging. Medications are typically distributed by manufacturers in bulk, but to increase patient safety, they are often administered to inpatients in unit-doses and to outpatients in dose packs. While some medications, especially oral solids, can be purchased from manufacturers in unit dose form, some hospitals purchase medication in bulk and then repackage them in-house using one or more packaging technologies: manual repackaging, semi-automated repackaging, and/or fully automated repackaging. As part of the focused research project, the unit dose research team conducted a survey of hospital pharmacy directors to assess the current state of the unit dose and bedside barcode-enabled dispensing practice. In exchange for their anonymous responses, survey respondents are receiving this summary report detailing the compiled survey results.
Title     Authors      Date   Source    Type
RS 08-02:  An Optimization Model for Selecting and Allocating Repackaging Technology for Unit-Dose Medications in Hospital Pharmacies Pazour, J. A., Root, S. E., Meller, R. D., Mason, S. J., and Thomas, L. M.  Dec-08 Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) Unrefereed Publications and Proceedings
Abstract

Millions of unit-dose medications are dispensed in hospitals and health systems daily and therefore hospitals need a way to repackage medications in unit-dose form. We conduct a systems analysis to determine the best manner for pharmacies to conduct in-house repackaging and labeling of medications in unit-dose packages. We develop an integer, linear program that simultaneously determined which level of automation is warranted and how each medication on the hospital’s formulary that is not delivered to the pharmacy in unitdose packaging should be repackaged subject to multiple constraints. We test our model with data from a hospital and find that our model is computationally efficient. We identify several aspects of repackaging that are intangible and difficult to quantify, yet lead to important trade-offs associated with the different repackaging technologies. These intangible elements motivate us to incorporate our model into an Excel-based tool to help foster adoption of our work in pharmacies.
Title     Authors   Date   Source    Type
RS 08-03:  Tutorial for a Tool to Support the Best Selection of Technology for Unit-Dose Packaging Thomas, L. M., Meller, R. D., Pazour, J. A., Mason, S. J., and Root, S. E. Dec-08 Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) Unrefereed Publications and Proceedings
Abstract

The Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics conducted research in the selection and allocation of repackaging technologies for unit dose medications in hospital pharmacies. Repackaging technologies include: fully-automated, high-speed re-packagers; semi-automated (tabletop) re-packagers; and manual repackaging systems. The research team developed an optimization model to assist hospital pharmacists in determining the best technology for the in-house repackaging of oral solid medications that are not received in unit dose packages [1]. The model selects the most cost-effective technology for each medication to be repackaged. The \Tool to Support the Best Selection of Technology for Unit-Dose Packaging," provides hospital pharmacists with software to analyze the cost of the various technologies based on their formulary using the optimization model. This tutorial details the Tool's design as well as an example that illustrates the Tool's functionality.
Title     Authors   Date   Source   Type
RS 08-04:  White Paper on Hospital Pharmacy Unit-Dose Acquisition and the Case for the Third-Party Repackaging Option Meller, R. D., Pazour, J. A., Thomas, L. M., Mason, S. J., Root, S. E., and Churchill, W. W. Dec-08 Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) Unrefereed Publications and Proceedings
Abstract

Our research team from the Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) was asked to develop better logistical strategies for securing medications in unit-dose form to support the best practice of barcode-enabled point-of-care (BPOC) administration. To aid us in our research, a CIHL strategic partner, the VHA hospital network, was utilized to provide in-depth background on hospital pharmacy strategic, tactical and operational methods. One of the pharmacy directors from the VHA network was able to also provide specific, case-study data. Together we designed and administered a survey to provide a more complete view of the landscape [12]. This white paper discusses the current state-of-practice, including the options available for securing medications in unit-dose form, as well as the options available for repackaging in the pharmacy. We then discuss the third-party repackaging option, including its positives and negatives. Our overall recommendation is to work towards the third-party option and so we discuss the challenges that need to be overcome for this to become a widespread practice. Finally, the impact of current and expected pedigree requirements on this issue are discussed.
Title   Authors   Date   Source  Type
The Case for Third-Party Repackaging in Hospital Pharmacy Unit-Dose Acquisition Meller, R. D., Pazour, J. A., Thomas, L. M., Mason, S. J., Root, S. E., and Churchill, W. W. Prepared 2009 American Journal of Health-Systems Pharmacy
AJHP: 2009AJHP0184R

Refereed Journal Articles and Book Chapters
Abstract

This paper is the result of a research project in the Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL), where we were asked to develop better logistical strategies for securing medications in unit-dose form to support the best practice of barcode-enabled point-of-care (BPOC) administration. Through our investigation with a CIHL strategic partner (the VHA hospital network) and other hospitals and third-party repackagers, we are making the overall recommendation that pharmacy directors should give due consideration to partnering with third-party repackagers. In this paper, after an overview of the options, we support our overall recommendation as well as present the hurdles that will need to be overcome by the third-party repackaging industry to fully realize this recommendation. Throughout, we incorporate results from our survey of hospital pharmacy directors on this topic.
 
Title   Authors   Date         Source  Type
Survey of Hospital Pharmacy Directors:  Assessment of the Current State of Unit-Dose Acquisition Mason, S. J., Meller, R. D., Thomas, L. M., Pazour, J. A., and Root, S. E. Jan/Feb-10 Journal:  Journal of Pharmacy Technology
Volume:  26
Number:  1
Pages:  3-8		 Refereed Journal Articles and Book Chapters
Abstract

The Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) at the University of Arkansas conducts focused healthcare research to adapt logistics and supply chain solutions from other industries to improve healthcare delivery. One of CIHL’s 2008 research projects focuses on unit dose medication packaging and repackaging. Medications are typically distributed by manufacturers in bulk, but to increase patient safety, they are often administered to inpatients in unit-doses and to outpatients in dose packs. While some medications, especially oral solids, can be purchased from manufacturers in unit dose form, some hospitals purchase medication in bulk and then repackage them in-house using one or more packaging technologies: manual repackaging, semi-automated repackaging, and/or fully automated repackaging. As part of the focused research project, the unit dose research team conducted a survey of hospital pharmacy directors to assess the current state of the unit dose and bedside barcode-enabled dispensing practice. In exchange for their anonymous responses, survey respondents are receiving this summary report detailing the compiled survey results.