Healthcare Operations

Research

What is Healthcare Operations research?

Our research line in Healthcare Operations focuses on optimizing demand management and the design of logistics networks in the pharmaceutical and humanitarian sectors. We apply approaches such as supply chain segmentation and lean practices adapted to emergency contexts.

We combine analytical models, simulations, and real-world experiences to build supply chains that are more resilient, efficient, and sustainable. Our research addresses two major global challenges: improving access to healthcare and strengthening humanitarian logistics—both critical for economic and social development.

Despite progress, health indicators in many regions still show limited improvement. At ZLC, we aim to transform this reality by generating knowledge that bridges theory and practice, enabling the design of healthcare systems that are more agile, equitable, and prepared for the future.

Main Researchers

Dr. Yasel Costa

Professor of Supply Chain Management and Director of the PhD Program and PhD Summer Academy Dr. Yasel Costa, is an...

Dr. Alfonso de Miguel Arribas

Researcher Dr. Alfonso de Miguel Arribas has been a researcher at ZLC since late 2024 in the area of Resilience,...

Main Achievements

Healthcare Logistics Education and Learning Pathway

The HELP project is supporting the implementation of reforms in line with the 2011 EU Modernisation Agenda's priority areas by improving quality and relevance of higher education, increasing attainment levels to provide the graduates and researchers European needs, strengthening quality through mobility and cross-border co-operation, and making the knowledge triangle work. The project is a […]

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Papers

Interplay of epidemic spreading and vaccine uptake under complex social contagion

Miguel-Arribas, A., Aleta, A., Moreno, Y. | Interplay of epidemic spreading and vaccine uptake under complex social contagion. Physical Review E. Vol. 112 | July 2025 | 014308.

Influence of social peers on vaccine hesitancy under imperfect vaccination

Lu, Y., de Miguel-Arribas, A., Shi, L. | Influence of social peers on vaccine hesitancy under imperfect vaccination. Applied Mathematics and Computation. Vol. 491 | April 2025 | 129214

Health Service Utilization and Poor Health Reporting in Asthma Patients

Behr JG, Diaz R., Akpinar-Elce, M. Health Service Utilization and Poor Health Reporting in Asthma Patients. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2016. Vol. 13 (7), art. 645

Emergency Department Frequent Utilization for Non-Emergent Presentments: Results from a Regional Urban Trauma Center Study

Behr JG, Diaz R. Emergency Department Frequent Utilization for Non-Emergent Presentments: Results from a Regional Urban Trauma Center Study. PLoS ONE , 2016, Vol. 11 (1): e0147116

Population vulnerability to storm flooding in Coastal Virginia, USA

Hua, L., Behr, JG., Díaz, R. Population vulnerability to storm flooding in Coastal Virginia, USA. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Vol 12 (3). July 2016, pp. 500-509

Modeling chronic disease patient flows diverted from emergency departments to patient-centered medical homes

Diaz, R., Behr, J., Kumar, S., Britton, B. Modeling chronic disease patient flows diverted from emergency departments to patient-centered medical homes. IIE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering. Vol. 5, 2015, pp. 268-285