Just-in-time for hospitals--so what's new?

In response to increasing competition, many hospital administrators and managers are giving a close look and, in many cases, a quick trial to management methods, techniques, and concepts used by other industries. One of those concepts is Just-in-Time (JIT) production and inventory management. JIT may not be applicable to the unique characteristics of the hospital/health industry; however, upon closer inspection, it will become evident to the reader that JIT has been used to some extent and in various applications, for many years. It has just not been called such.