Driving Results Blog
How inefficient last-mile logistics are costing U.S. health systems millions
October 16, 2025
By Jake Crampton, MedSpeed CEO
When we think of healthcare innovation, last-mile logistics is not what usually comes to mind. Yet, as revealed in a new white paper by L.E.K. Consulting and MedSpeed, this under-the-radar aspect of healthcare is one of the most expensive and clinically disruptive points of failure in U.S. health systems and laboratories.
The paper, The True Value of Last-Mile Logistics in Healthcare, uncovers the profound impact when medical couriers fall short. These failures don’t just affect the financial bottom line—they ripple across clinical outcomes and can damage a system’s reputation.
The price of getting it wrong
In a typical three- to four-hospital system, re-collection stemming from specimen mishandling can lead to over $1 million in direct costs each year.
For mishandled specimens, each instance of re-collection ranges from $350 to $5,000 depending on the specimen type, a cost that quickly multiplies across repeated errors. In fact, based on industry-norm error rates, such costs translate into an embedded charge of ~$0.50 for every specimen transported.
But that’s just the beginning. Delays in surgical instruments, improperly stored pharmaceuticals, and other logistical failures compound the problem, undermining patient care and operational efficiency.
The hidden costs of a broken last mile
The cost of last-mile logistics failures extends beyond direct remediation into impact on clinical productivity and more.
- Clinical impact: More than half of nurses surveyed reported canceling or delaying procedures in the past year due to courier errors. The average cost per delayed procedure is $4,500, and with nearly 2 million nurses working in U.S. health systems, the cumulative impact of these delays becomes staggering.
- Legal, reputational, and liability risks: The costs don’t stop at patient care. The legal and reputational risks are mounting. One real-world example from the white paper highlights a $50 million lawsuit stemming from a single lost surgical specimen. The loss of patient trust and potential litigation can be far-reaching, with long-term consequences that are difficult, if not impossible, to recover from.
Steps health systems and labs can take to tackle this issue
The good news? These losses are largely preventable. The report highlights that top-performing logistics providers operate with error rates well below industry norms. Thus, eliminating up to 95 percent of error-related care interruptions and costs, and proving that it’s possible to turn last-mile logistics from a liability into a competitive advantage.
In a healthcare environment that demands precision, safety, and efficiency, last-mile delivery must be treated as a core part of patient care, not an afterthought.
If your organization is navigating similar challenges, or simply aiming to strengthen operational resilience, I invite you to explore the full white paper. It offers a data-driven look into what high-performing logistics can truly deliver.