Hospitals are large and complex organizations, yet they function largely without sophistication and technology inherent in other large businesses. In a time when well over half of all hospitals report negative operating margins, driving down costs through logistics and the supply chain is one of the most important yet overlooked areas for cost improvements. Hospitals and other healthcare systems spend more time and money on their supply chain than on physicians and doctors salaries combined. This is one of the first books to focus on the core business support services typically called "logistics" in healthcare. These include: Hospital materials management and the clinical supply chain Laundry and linen management eCommerce and technology in hospital logistics Accounting for medical supplies and inventories Inventory management Healthcare vendor collaboration Demand and supply planning This is an ideal text for healthcare administrators and functional business managers responsible for purchasing...