Healthcare Logistics Education and Learning Pathway Erasmus Project

Project Title

Healthcare Logistics Education and Learning Pathway

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Quality and Relevance of Higher Education in Partner Countries

Project Summary

The Europe healthcare system is facing changes due to the increased need for healthcare services and decreased financial resources. This together with current healthcare reforms mean that logistics as one of the most important cost and quality factors of healthcare services needs more efficient operating models. For example, the ongoing health, social services and regional government reform, the biggest ever administrative and operational overhauls in Finnish healthcare, will effect on the production of all healthcare services and every citizen in the country.
The HELP project has responded to the increasing needs of healthcare organisations (HOs) in the field of logistics. As a response to the increased demands of high quality services, regulatory and compliance requirements as well as cost and margin pressures, healthcare organisations are seeking new ways to develop their operational efficiency, reduce costs as well as improve patients care and safety. One of the greatest challenges of internal logistics of HOs is related to the efficient use of human resources. Too many persons are involved in logistics tasks and distribution of work is often unclear, instructions are insufficient and systems too complicated. There is also lacking of awareness about logistics management, and education of personnel conducting logistics tasks is inadequate.
The HELP project has answered to the needs of international HOs by deepening knowledge and increasing competencies in healthcare logistics. It has developed and piloted a healthcare logistics education and learning pathway from vocational education to doctoral studies in healthcare logistics and started the development of networks of healthcare logisticians as a long term objective to create national and international networks of healthcare logisticians and healthcare logistics education institutions.
The project consortium consisted of LAB University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Tallinn Health Care College (Estonia), Salpaus Further Education (Finland), Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands), KU Leuven (Belgium), University of Eastern Finland (Finland) and Zaragoza Logistics Center (Spain). The consortium was created so that two partners represented the vocational level education, two applied higher education and two scientific education and research. The work of project partners was supported by associated healthcare organisations, healthcare logistics service providers and other universities.
The project activities were organised in 8 work packages: WP1 Project management, WP2 Quality management, WP3 Preparatory research and guidance for HLE pathway development, WP4 Vocational level education development, WP5 Bachelors’ level education development, WP6 Masters’ level education development, WP7 Doctoral level education development, and WP8 Dissemination and exploitation. The main development work was carried out in work packages 3 – 7. The developed study modules were tested in pilot trainings in the partner countries. The project organised dissemination workshops and a final seminar. Other important dissemination activities were international conference presentations and professional and academic articles.
As the main results of the HELP project two Vocational level study modules, two Bachelor level study modules, two Master level study modules and one PhD level study module. In addition to the study modules and study materials, the project produced student study guides, teacher’s handbooks and marketing materials for potential students and for the use of education institutions. The project also produced information about best practices of healthcare logistics in the partner countries. All information and materials produced in the project were published as open access materials on the project website or project’s eLearning environment.
The project has had impact on individuals, systems and practices in the healthcare sector in a number ways. At local and regional levels, the project delivered concrete improvements on supply chain performance and created innovations based on the local needs of HOs. At national level, the valorisation activities also targeted the HOs’ supply chain including logistics service providers, VETs and HEIs. At European and international levels, the project contributed to the objectives of the development activities of healthcare supply chain performance, quality and security by demonstrating innovative practices through the results of the Healthcare Logistics Education and Learning Pathway.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 319659,7 Eur

Project Coordinator

LAB AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY & Country: FI

Project Partners

• Salpaus Further Education Regional Consortium
• KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
• FUNDACION ZARAGOZA LOGISTICS CENTER
• TALLINNA TERVISHOIU KÕRGKOOL
• STICHTING HOGESCHOOL ROTTERDAM
• ITA-SUOMEN YLIOPISTO