1. Video scopes and accompanying equipment. Arguably some of the biggest equipment purchases a GI-driven ASC has to make are video scopes and the equipment needed to perform procedures using the scopes.
“I just did a major purchase of $300,000 just for scopes we need for GI procedures,” Ms. Casey says. “We also needed to order televisions because the scopes are attached to internal cameras and you need computer systems and servers to operate it. If we have three sister surgery centers who wanted to buy scopes, we can negotiate as three centers collectively and get lower price points than proposed by the GPO.”
2. Washer/disinfector. Northpoint purchases double scope washers, which are machines used to sterilize scopes after a procedure. Ms. Casey says washer/disinfectors can cost as much as $50,000 or more per unit, and Northpoint so far has gone through four units. Working and negotiating with a GPO has helped contain those high costs.
“Northpoint uses these washer/disinfectors, which usually last anywhere between three to five years,” Ms. Casey says. “Now, you can continue to repair them time and time again once they start breaking down, but once our units start needing monthly repairs, I switch them out for new ones because I have a concern that maybe they’re not cleaning properly.”
3. Disposable supplies. Ms. Casey has been able to lock in reasonable prices for supplies, such as disposable forceps, which are thrown away after each use. Ms. Casey attributes high volume at the surgery center as the main selling point when negotiate down supply costs with the surgery center’s GPO.
“Because we’re part of National Surgical Care, I’m able to get very reasonable prices when it comes to supplies, which are disposable items such as biopsy forceps and sterilization products for washers/disinfector,” she says. “That’s why it’s affective being in a company with other surgery centers. If someone needs the same product as you at the same time, you can get better prices.”
Learn more about Northpoint Surgery Center.
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