In the ever-evolving world of healthcare logistics, the ability to track and account for every package and piece of mail isn’t just a convenience – it’s a necessity. Working in the logistics industry, there’s no doubt that you’re acutely aware of these challenges that arise when visibility and accountability are lacking. If you’re ready to master package and asset tracking for your healthcare facility, this post is for you.

Lost in Transit: The Challenge of Lost Packages

Every misdirected or lost item is more than just a hiccup in your daily workflows; it’s a missed opportunity that’s potentially impacting patient care and outcomes. A lost package isn’t just a lost package; it’s a bottleneck in your package tracking pipeline that can cause a ripple effect, leading to increased stress among your team, unnecessary replacement costs, and more.

Not all package tracking software is created equal, and hey, you might even be manually tracking your packages right now (we’re not judging, we promise). We recommend looking for solutions that don’t just focus on last-mile delivery but last-yard delivery.

Last-yard delivery refers to the final step of your delivery process, where mail, packages, and assets are transferred from your receiving area to their specific end locations within your hospital or healthcare facility. This level of tracking doesn’t just reduce time spent finding where packages are but helps your team proactively avoid bottlenecks caused by missing deliveries, especially if they are time-sensitive materials or vital equipment.

Real-Time Visibility: Managing Healthcare Assets

Working in any healthcare facility, precision is paramount, and that doesn’t stop when it comes to operational visibility. Without real-time visibility, you’re left wondering about the status and location of medical supplies, equipment, lab samples, and so much more.

Decision-making turns into a game of guesswork, often resulting in inventory discrepancies and asset management challenges that hurt the delivery of essential items for patient care. We’ve seen it all, from paper sign-out sheets to software that doesn’t integrate with other solutions, leaving your team to scramble when you can’t find what you’re looking for. Plus, don’t even get us started with the compliance issues behind inconsistent tracking. Our recommendation is to look for a solution that focuses on real-time visibility and tracking, ensuring that you have eyes on vital assets where and whenever you need to.

Accountability Struggles: Streamlining Chain of Custody

“Where is this item?” isn’t always a simple question, is it? Accountability struggles plague so many healthcare operations, leaving your team vulnerable, with little direction in task management and poor communication amongst teams. Unfortunately, this struggle can go beyond just misplaced items, leading to delays throughout your entire day, additional costs needed for item replacement, and more. But you already knew that, didn’t you?

With outdated or manual tracking systems, you may have information on where an item was last, but you have no insight into the chain of custody. Who touched these items? When did they touch them? Did they follow protocols or special instructions for transferring them? All of these questions can lead to operational inefficiency, bottlenecks, and, ultimately, non-compliance. Find a software solution focusing on the chain of custody, including configurable fields unique to your healthcare facility. Before you know it, your entire tracking and delivery process will be streamlined.

Master Tracking & Visibility in Healthcare Logistics with SCLogic

Knowing where to start, what to focus on, and what tools you need to improve your healthcare logistics operation can be difficult. Not all solutions are created equal, and not all solutions are catered to the individual needs of the healthcare industry. Our software, Intra, is created to solve your most frustrating pain points, from last-yard package tracking to courier transfers, preventative maintenance, and more.

If you’re ready to streamline your operation, schedule your demo today! Have more questions? Email [email protected] to learn more about our specific healthcare solutions.