Medical facilities such as hospitals and doctors’ offices, are responsible for the health and wellbeing of countless individuals. However, just like any business, they can face different organizational issues.
Whether it’s due to a lack of storage space or inefficient supply management – disorganization can have major consequences. Alongside resulting in financial loss, inventory discrepancies can be dangerous in the event of an emergency.
In this article, we are going to discuss exactly how you should organize supplies in a medical facility for increased efficiency.
Invest in the right storage solutions.
Before you can keep any of your equipment organized, you need to invest in the right storage solutions. This requires some careful planning, as you want to choose shelving, racks, draws, and bins that make the most out of your space.
Check out these hospital storage solutions to get started. They have a wide range of options to suit your individual needs.
Categorize and label supplies.
After you’ve set up your different storage solutions, it’s time to label and categorize your supplies. From a simple tape label to complex barcodes – there are many different ways to track inventory.
A color-coding system can also be beneficial in identifying items. You just need to ensure it’s not too complex for your team members to understand.
Use an inventory management system.
One of the best ways to keep your supplies organized is to use an inventory management system. The right software will track all of your supplies by category, quantity, and expiry dates. This will prevent resources such as medication and supplements from being wasted.
An inventory management system will also show you when you are running low on stock. You can even set it to re-order supplies automatically when a certain level is hit.
Rotate stock regularly.
A rotating stock system involves placing newer supplies in the back and older ones in the front. Again, this helps to prevent wastage as the older stock will be used first.
It’s also a great way to prevent clutter and medication mix-ups as you are regularly reviewing items. This is critical when working with vulnerable patients.
Train staff on new protocols.
Finally, one of the most important steps to follow is to train your staff on the protocols. When all of your team members are on the same page, there will be a more efficient workflow.
Teach them how to put supplies back correctly and how to use any new software. In addition, they must understand how to identify, report, and replace damaged or expired supplies and equipment.
Final Words
As you can see from the above, supply and equipment management is a critical part of running a medical facility. By following the steps above, you can be sure that you are giving the best quality care to your patients. The entire workplace will be more efficient and you will always have the stock available for your staff to do their jobs effectively.
