Timothy Merchant, vice president of Medline Industries' MEDISISS, discussed equipment reprocessing at the Becker's 20th Annual Ambulatory Surgery Centers Conference, held Oct. 24-26 in Chicago.
Mr. Merchant's presentation focused on the potential cost savings and the quality of product in surgery center equipment reprocessing.
He shared several illuminating facts about healthcare byproducts and waste. "As an industry, healthcare produces the second largest amount of waste. Only 10 percent of the waste that is recyclable actually completes the process. And 20 to 30 percent of healthcare waste is created in the operating room," he said.
He included several more considerations for ASCs thinking about investing in reprocessing:
1. Cost. There is a $20,000 savings opportunity per operating room per year for every surgical center or surgical hospital operating room. The cost-to-use ratio for disposable tools versus reprocessed tools is two-to-one over the lifetime of the devices. In orthopedic settings this can be even higher, with a $25,000 savings opportunity per operating room per year with a switch from single-use to multiple-use tools.
2. Vetting. Reprocessing is an intensive activity. At Medline facilities, each reprocessed tool goes through eight inspections after being cleaned, decontaminated in four different ways, refurbished and inspected for micro-fractures. Inspectors test each component using materials similar to the ones on which the tool will ultimately be used. Afterward, the tool is sterilized and packaged. The entire process takes 10 days from start to finish.
3. Education. Reprocessing is often cited as an infection risk, but Mr. Merchant says this comes from single-use manufacturers citing old data and creating confusion. Reprocessing was unregulated before 2000 and caused quality problems as a result. Since coming under the Food and Drug Administration's inspection in 2000, the process is now as stringent as the manufacturing and sale of a new device.
4. Education. Educating surgeons on the quality of reprocessed devices may be as simple as storeroom education and blind trials. While the stereotype of poor quality used to be warranted, it's now long outdated. Have surgeons rate new tools against reprocessed tools to dispel quality concerns. "Once physicians agree to trials, dollars become very real when the quality of the device is proved," said Mr. Merchant.
5. Contracts. Surgery centers should be sure to check their contracts from original device manufacturers before reprocessing. Often original device contracts contain lines against reprocessing. Don't make a legal and logistical error by being less than thorough in contract knowledge, said Mr. Merchant.
Mr. Merchant's presentation focused on the potential cost savings and the quality of product in surgery center equipment reprocessing.
He shared several illuminating facts about healthcare byproducts and waste. "As an industry, healthcare produces the second largest amount of waste. Only 10 percent of the waste that is recyclable actually completes the process. And 20 to 30 percent of healthcare waste is created in the operating room," he said.
He included several more considerations for ASCs thinking about investing in reprocessing:
1. Cost. There is a $20,000 savings opportunity per operating room per year for every surgical center or surgical hospital operating room. The cost-to-use ratio for disposable tools versus reprocessed tools is two-to-one over the lifetime of the devices. In orthopedic settings this can be even higher, with a $25,000 savings opportunity per operating room per year with a switch from single-use to multiple-use tools.
2. Vetting. Reprocessing is an intensive activity. At Medline facilities, each reprocessed tool goes through eight inspections after being cleaned, decontaminated in four different ways, refurbished and inspected for micro-fractures. Inspectors test each component using materials similar to the ones on which the tool will ultimately be used. Afterward, the tool is sterilized and packaged. The entire process takes 10 days from start to finish.
3. Education. Reprocessing is often cited as an infection risk, but Mr. Merchant says this comes from single-use manufacturers citing old data and creating confusion. Reprocessing was unregulated before 2000 and caused quality problems as a result. Since coming under the Food and Drug Administration's inspection in 2000, the process is now as stringent as the manufacturing and sale of a new device.
4. Education. Educating surgeons on the quality of reprocessed devices may be as simple as storeroom education and blind trials. While the stereotype of poor quality used to be warranted, it's now long outdated. Have surgeons rate new tools against reprocessed tools to dispel quality concerns. "Once physicians agree to trials, dollars become very real when the quality of the device is proved," said Mr. Merchant.
5. Contracts. Surgery centers should be sure to check their contracts from original device manufacturers before reprocessing. Often original device contracts contain lines against reprocessing. Don't make a legal and logistical error by being less than thorough in contract knowledge, said Mr. Merchant.
