Rational and participative task allocation between the nursing staff and the logistics support service provider in healthcare

Abstract

This study aims to answer how rational task allocation between the nursing staff and the support service provider in the healthcare context can increase the positive outcome of the work system. The work system model is used as a theoretical framework, with resilience and cost as complementary concepts. This qualitative case study used action research and participatory design to develop the work system with the interplay of two parallel personnel groups in the healthcare environment. First, the case of an ongoing relationship between the target organization's nursing staff and in‐house logistics and material supply services was studied. The development process resulted in a variety of practical ideas to improve the cooperation between the personnel groups. In the second case, a prospective relationship between the nursing staff and an external logistics service provider was examined. This research's conceptual results identify the main characteristics of rational support services as comprehensive, resilient, reliable, and easily accessible.

Getting closer by increasing distance: the dynamics of value creation spheres in health care logistics

“…Material flows inside hospitals are taken care of by logistics unit personnel and nursing staff. These occupational roles are naturally far from each other and divergent objectives, such as the lack of a common language, hinder collaboration between them (Kekkonen et al, 2018). However, as our empirical study indicates, a growing physical distance can also have a positive impact on the relationship.…”

“…According to Kekkonen et al (2018), health care logistics services engage both logistics service personnel (drivers, shelving service personnel, warehouse personnel) and nursing staff. However, the task allocation is variable, and challenges arise from the lack of a joint interface between the two personnel groups.…”

“…Specifically in the health-care context, the value related to logistics services has been seen to be centered around reliability, resilience, ease of access and comprehensiveness, factors that play significant roles in both employee well-being and productivity (Kekkonen et al, 2018). Moreover, fluent cooperation results in care personnel having less stress and more time for patient workas well as increased reliability and securitythese all increase the operational efficiency of healthcare organizations (Pohjosenperä et al, 2018).…”

Occupational safety and health in shared workplaces according to workplace inspection reports

“…The developments of the last decades have given rise to situations and worksites that do not meet the strict definition of a shared workplace but possess similar characteristics with regard to the employers and their employees [8,9]. For example, in industrial parks and shopping centres, there is usually no principal employer, which is an essential factor in shared workplaces.…”

Schools and kindergartens as shared workplaces: An analysis of the work ability management challenges of the meal and cleaning service employees

“…In most cases, the outsourced operations are 'support operations' that are needed to run the core operations of the company [10]. Support operations cover services such as financial administration, security, and maintenance of the premises and machinery [11]. Outsourcing the support operations can be seen as an opportunity for a company to focus on its core operations and, thus, to gain business advantages by concentrating on its area of expertise [12][13].…”