Operations & Supply Chain

Operations Management for Hospitals

Hospital operations determine waiting times, patient flow, staff workload and cost. This course applies operations management to healthcare: patient flow and bed management, theatre scheduling, outpatient capacity, discharge planning, supplies and logistics, lean in healthcare and operational performance dashboards.

5 days Classroom or live online English

Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants

Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF

Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Better hospital operations mean safer care and shorter waits. You will learn practical tools proven in hospitals worldwide.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Hospital case studies, patient flow simulations, scheduling exercises and improvement workshops.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Analyse patient flow and bottlenecks
Improve bed management and discharge
Schedule theatres and outpatient clinics
Manage hospital supplies and logistics
Apply lean methods in healthcare
Monitor operational performance

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Hospital operations managers
Nurse managers and bed managers
Healthcare administrators
Quality and improvement staff
Clinical directors

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Patient flow analysis
Capacity management
Scheduling
Healthcare logistics
Lean improvement

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Hospital Operations

09:00–10:08Operations in healthcare
10:08–11:00Demand and capacity
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Demand and capacity (continued)
11:45–12:53KPIs
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Patient Flow

09:00–10:08Emergency to ward flow
10:08–11:00Bed management
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Bed management (continued)
11:45–12:53Discharge planning
12:53–14:00Simulation

Day 3Scheduling

09:00–10:08Theatre scheduling
10:08–11:00Outpatient capacity
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Outpatient capacity (continued)
11:45–12:53Reducing cancellations
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 4Supplies and Lean

09:00–10:08Hospital logistics
10:08–11:00Lean in healthcare
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Lean in healthcare (continued)
11:45–12:53Waste reduction
12:53–14:00Case study

Day 5Performance

09:00–10:08Operational dashboards
10:08–11:00Daily huddles
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Daily huddles (continued)
11:45–12:53Improvement plan
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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