Mapping research on healthcare operations and supply chain management: a topic modelling-based literature review

The literature on healthcare operations and supply chain management has seen unprecedented growth over the past two decades. This paper seeks to advance the body of knowledge on this topic by utilising a topic modelling-based literature review to identify the core topics, examine their dynamic changes, and identify opportunities for further research in the area. Based on an analysis of 571 articles published until 25 January 2022, we identify numerous popular topics of research in the area, including patient waiting time, COVID-19 pandemic, Industry 4.0 technologies, sustainability, risk and resilience, climate change, circular economy, humanitarian logistics, behavioural operations, service-ecosystem, and knowledge management. We reviewed current literature around each topic and offered insights into what aspects of each topic have been studied and what are the recent developments and opportunities for more impactful future research. Doing so, this review help advance the contemporary scholarship on healthcare operations and supply chain management and offers resonant insights for researchers, research students, journal editors, and policymakers in the field.

Automated summary

This paper conducts a literature review on healthcare operations and supply chain management using topic modelling, aiming to identify core topics, examine their dynamic changes, and explore opportunities for future research. Through analyzing 571 articles, popular research topics in the field are identified, including patient waiting time, COVID-19 pandemic, Industry 4.0 technologies, sustainability, risk and resilience, climate change, circular economy, humanitarian logistics, behavioural operations, service-ecosystem, and knowledge management. The paper offers insights into the current literature and provides suggestions for future impactful research. It is significant for researchers, research students, journal editors, and policymakers in the field.