University of Arkansas Recognized for Health Care Innovation

AlliedHealthWorld.com, a health information website, has included the University of Arkansas on its list of "10 Schools Driving Healthcare Innovation." Other schools on that list include universities with nationally recognized medical schools such as the University of South Carolina, the University of California-San Francisco and the University of Michigan.

The University of Arkansas was recognized for research on the health care supply chain. "Research projects focused on determining ideal forms of medication packaging and performing a thorough accounting of supply chain cost and quality drawbacks [that] can lead to innovations that overcome roadblocks to quality care and foster an industry environment conducive to further progress," wrote Justin Boyle, author of the AlliedHealthWorld.com article.

The College of Engineering's Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics is a major driving force behind healthcare supply chain research at the University of Arkansas. Industrial engineering researchers at this center examine the difference between supply chain practices in the retail and healthcare worlds, focusing on ways that the healthcare field can become more efficient and effective by adopting best practices from retail.

"I am pleased that we have been recognized as a national leader in healthcare innovation," said Kim Needy, head of the department of industrial engineering. "This accomplishment brings great recognition to Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics and to our talented faculty, staff and students within the industrial engineering department."