Lean Management Framework in Healthcare: Insights and Achievements on Hazardous Medical Waste
Hazardous medical waste (HMW) presents significant environmental and public health challenges, particularly in the context of rising healthcare demands and the global push for sustainable resource management. This study investigates the evolution of HMW management through a bibliometric and thematic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6686 |
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| author | Adela Dana Ciobanu Alexandru Ozunu Maria Tănase Adrian Gligor Cristina Veres |
| author_facet | Adela Dana Ciobanu Alexandru Ozunu Maria Tănase Adrian Gligor Cristina Veres |
| author_sort | Adela Dana Ciobanu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hazardous medical waste (HMW) presents significant environmental and public health challenges, particularly in the context of rising healthcare demands and the global push for sustainable resource management. This study investigates the evolution of HMW management through a bibliometric and thematic analysis of 1703 articles published between 2020 and 2025, retrieved from the Web of Science database. Using VOSviewer, co-occurrence mapping and term clustering reveal six major conceptual domains, including thermal treatment technologies, operational optimization, environmental indicators, and behavioral dimensions. This study adds value by applying a dual bibliometric–thematic lens to provide new insights into the operational, technological, and sustainability dimensions of HMW. The analysis identifies a gradual shift from traditional disposal methods to circular models focused on resource valorization through pyrolysis, gasification, and sterilization. Lean management principles—such as process efficiency, waste minimization, and the promotion of recovery and reuse—emerge as complementary to circular economy goals. Additional visualizations outline international collaboration trends, highlighting established research hubs and emerging contributors. The findings emphasize the role of data-driven decision tools, sustainability assessment methods, and cross-sectoral integration in enhancing medical waste systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ae8ee13c5a0646adac3471bb398e8dbd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-ae8ee13c5a0646adac3471bb398e8dbd2025-08-20T03:26:10ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011512668610.3390/app15126686Lean Management Framework in Healthcare: Insights and Achievements on Hazardous Medical WasteAdela Dana Ciobanu0Alexandru Ozunu1Maria Tănase2Adrian Gligor3Cristina Veres4Doctoral School of Environmental Science, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeș-Bolyai University, Fantanele Street, 30, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeș-Bolyai University, Fantanele Street, 30, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaMechanical Engineering Department, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, 100680 Ploiesti, RomaniaDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu-Mures, Nicolae Iorga Street, 1, 540088 Targu-Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Industrial Engineering and Management, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu-Mures, Nicolae Iorga Street, 1, 540088 Targu-Mures, RomaniaHazardous medical waste (HMW) presents significant environmental and public health challenges, particularly in the context of rising healthcare demands and the global push for sustainable resource management. This study investigates the evolution of HMW management through a bibliometric and thematic analysis of 1703 articles published between 2020 and 2025, retrieved from the Web of Science database. Using VOSviewer, co-occurrence mapping and term clustering reveal six major conceptual domains, including thermal treatment technologies, operational optimization, environmental indicators, and behavioral dimensions. This study adds value by applying a dual bibliometric–thematic lens to provide new insights into the operational, technological, and sustainability dimensions of HMW. The analysis identifies a gradual shift from traditional disposal methods to circular models focused on resource valorization through pyrolysis, gasification, and sterilization. Lean management principles—such as process efficiency, waste minimization, and the promotion of recovery and reuse—emerge as complementary to circular economy goals. Additional visualizations outline international collaboration trends, highlighting established research hubs and emerging contributors. The findings emphasize the role of data-driven decision tools, sustainability assessment methods, and cross-sectoral integration in enhancing medical waste systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6686hazardous medical wastecircular economylean healthcarehealthcare innovation |
| spellingShingle | Adela Dana Ciobanu Alexandru Ozunu Maria Tănase Adrian Gligor Cristina Veres Lean Management Framework in Healthcare: Insights and Achievements on Hazardous Medical Waste Applied Sciences hazardous medical waste circular economy lean healthcare healthcare innovation |
| title | Lean Management Framework in Healthcare: Insights and Achievements on Hazardous Medical Waste |
| title_full | Lean Management Framework in Healthcare: Insights and Achievements on Hazardous Medical Waste |
| title_fullStr | Lean Management Framework in Healthcare: Insights and Achievements on Hazardous Medical Waste |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lean Management Framework in Healthcare: Insights and Achievements on Hazardous Medical Waste |
| title_short | Lean Management Framework in Healthcare: Insights and Achievements on Hazardous Medical Waste |
| title_sort | lean management framework in healthcare insights and achievements on hazardous medical waste |
| topic | hazardous medical waste circular economy lean healthcare healthcare innovation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6686 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT adeladanaciobanu leanmanagementframeworkinhealthcareinsightsandachievementsonhazardousmedicalwaste AT alexandruozunu leanmanagementframeworkinhealthcareinsightsandachievementsonhazardousmedicalwaste AT mariatanase leanmanagementframeworkinhealthcareinsightsandachievementsonhazardousmedicalwaste AT adriangligor leanmanagementframeworkinhealthcareinsightsandachievementsonhazardousmedicalwaste AT cristinaveres leanmanagementframeworkinhealthcareinsightsandachievementsonhazardousmedicalwaste |