Designing a Model for Assessing the Sustainable Supply Chain Performance of Governmental Hospitals using Grounded Theory Approach

Designing a supply chain performance model for hospitals is one of the fundamental decisions in supply chain management which significantly affect the investment return and the overall performance in the chain. The purpose of this research was to design a model for assessing supply chain performance in hospitals while considering economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability.

This qualitative research was conducted using grounded theory. In order to collect data, 14 experts in public hospitals in Yazd province were interviewed. The participants included five hospital managers, four heads of departments, three supplies deputies, and two administrative heads who had at least 8 years of work experience and were familiar with sustainability issues. A combination of purposeful and snowball techniques was used to collect data which were then analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding methods.

After the analysis of the data, 44 sub-codes affecting the sustainability of supply chain in public hospital were identified. The sub-codes were then classified into six main codes: intervening factors, causal factors, phenomenal pivot, performance strategies, background requirements and performance implications. Improving collaborative cooperation in different parts of hospitals, reducing the risk of medical errors, improving the quality of services, and enhancing the professional status of personnel were some of the implications of assessing the sustainable supply chain performance in hospitals.

The proposed model can be used as a tool of prediction and policy making while assessing sustainability of supply chain performance in public hospitals. Planning and policymaking to enhance health and environmental management system can lead to collaborations between departments, reduction in medical errors (i.e., wrong diagnosis or   medication), understanding the specific needs of each patient, the implementation of educational and health care programs, as well as a reduction of environmental pollutants.