Materials management is an important issue for\r\nhealthcare systems because it influences clinical and\r\nfinancial outcomes. Before selecting, adapting and\r\nimplementing leading or optimized practices, a good\r\nunderstanding of processes and activities has to be\r\ndeveloped.\r\nIn real applications, the information flows and business\r\nstrategies involved are different from hospital to hospital,\r\ndepending on context, culture and available resources; it\r\nis therefore difficult to find a comprehensive and\r\nexhaustive description of processes, even more so a clear\r\nformalization of them.\r\nThe objective of this paper is twofold. First, it proposes an\r\nintegrated and detailed analysis and description model\r\nfor hospital materials management data and tasks, which\r\nis able to tackle information from patient requirements to\r\nusage, from replenishment requests to supplying and\r\nhandling activities. The model takes account of medical\r\nrisk reduction, traceability and streamlined processes\r\nperspectives. Second, the paper translates this\r\ninformation into a business process model and\r\nmathematical formalization.\r\nThe study provides a useful guide to the various relevant\r\ntechnology-related, management and business issues,\r\nlaying the foundations of an efficient reengineering of the\r\nsupply chain to reduce healthcare costs and improve the\r\nquality of care.
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