The True Value of Last-Mile Logistics in Healthcare

This technical report discusses the critical role of last-mile logistics in healthcare delivery, focusing on how these logistics providers facilitate the timely transport of essential materials across various healthcare sites. It outlines the types of materials transported, including lab specimens, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies, and emphasizes the importance of timely delivery for effective patient care and diagnostics. The report details the potential clinical impacts of logistics errors, such as specimen mishandling, which can lead to delays in treatment and increased costs for healthcare systems. It also categorizes the financial implications of logistics errors into direct remediation costs, clinical productivity losses, and macro impacts, highlighting how these can affect overall healthcare delivery. Additionally, the report presents specific examples of costs associated with specimen mishandling and the broader implications for patient trust and system efficiency, underscoring the need for quality-driven logistics solutions in the healthcare sector.