Vaudois University Hospital:

an example of connected hospital logistics in Switzerland

Why choose the CHUV?
Hospital logistics play a crucial role in ensuring that care, teaching, and research units can fully focus on their core missions. This involves implementing efficient and innovative logistical services. The CHUV excels in this field, thanks to cutting-edge organization, advanced technologies, and shared solutions such as the PLEXUS-Santé logistics platform.

The objective was to understand how new technologies and automation enhance the efficiency of operating rooms, with a particular focus on solutions like automated storage robots. We also analyzed the impact of centralizing logistical services on the overall performance of the hospital and studied the management of a state-of-the-art food production center.

Our delegation was welcomed by Silvia Hanhart, Director of the Hospital Logistics Department. The mission began with a visit to the CHUV's operating rooms and central sterilization unit. The CHUV features 22 ultra-modern operating rooms, including a hybrid room and the Da Vinci surgical robot, representing a hub of high technology. Medical stock management is handled by an automated storage and retrieval system, preparing 50 to 60 surgeries per day with impressive precision and efficiency. We had the opportunity to take a close look at this incredible robot, which once again demonstrates the technological advances employed by the CHUV.
On the second day, our delegation visited the Food Production Center (CPA) in Bussigny. This 5,000 m² space, employing 50 staff members, handles various tasks such as producing up to 200 kg of meat per day, 2,000 salads, 1,500 sandwiches, and 3,000 desserts. The CPA also caters for hospital events and is continuously innovating with ongoing logistical projects.

The afternoon was dedicated to exploring PLEXUS-Santé, the shared logistics platform between the CHUV and Geneva University Hospitals (HUG). PLEXUS is a cornerstone of hospital supply, managing 3,000 stocked items and shipping 3,500 orders daily, all overseen by a highly efficient robotic storage system.

On the final day, we returned to the CHUV to discover laundry management services, floor-level stock, and the kitchen. The impressive logistics system, handling 600 daily packages and 7 tons of laundry per day, is supported by a fleet of 9 automated guided vehicles (AGVs), facilitating the distribution of meals, medical supplies, and waste. Floor-level storage ensures the supply of 30 care units with 10,000 types of consumables.

We concluded this international immersion with a debriefing session led by Paul Tandonnet, a health and robotics expert, and Loréna Speroni, a logistics and procurement specialist, who summarized the key points of these three days of professional visits.

This study tour was highly inspiring, offering a unique immersion into hospital logistical innovations and demonstrating how technology can transform the performance and efficiency of healthcare facilities. A rich learning experience that promises to positively influence future practices of the participants.