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Abstract
A well-organized materiel management system interfaces with the hospital's financing and accounting functions and provides timely delivery of the proper item to the right place at the lowest possible cost. To achieve these objectives, the system coordinates every aspect of the budgetary, purchasing, storing, distributing, and inventory control of goods, materiel, and supplies. One university hospital designed, developed, and installed an integrated materiel management microcomputer system that is highly efficient and capable of handling inventory control, purchasing, and accounts-payable processing. The system is made up of an integrated microcomputer network that permits inventory control at central supply and pharmacy and also at each department. The application of bar-code tags on the materiel and the use of bar code readers throughout the system are required. All the activities are integrated with one another and with a general ledger accounting program. The computer system maintains inventory information more effectively than was possible with the previous manual system. Illustrations.