Performance Improvement Measure:
Reuse single-use devices.
Category:
Regulated Medical Waste
Subcategory:
Operations
Department:
Environmental Services
Level:
Intermediate
PIM Type:
Measurement and Reporting
Optimize operations.
Infrastructure/Equipment
Strategies/Projects
Description:
"Remanufacture," or reprocess, single-use devices for reuse. (This process is consistent with standards of quality patient care and waste minimization. These activities are also low-hanging fruit for significant cost savings.)
Policy/Compliance Considerations:
• SUD is regulated by the FDA.
• Barriers to implementation exist (e.g., physician preference, perceived risks, cost accounting barriers). Anticipate barriers to help overcome them.
• It may take a full year to implement a program and fully realize its benefits.
How-To:
GETTING STARTED: A Department Manager's Checklist
• Form a multidisciplinary task force at the department and hospital level. See suggested membership lists on the Building Teams page under Strategies on the Roadmap website.
• Contact the reprocessing company rRepresentatives. Meet the CFO and materials manager to discuss savings opportunities.
• Schedule presentation(s) to clinical staff and physicians (be sure to include OR techs and other materials support staff).
• Develop an implementation process list with company representatives.
• Designate clinical and/or initiative champions. Delineate their responsibilities and clarify accountability for tracking collection of used products and restocking of reprocessed products.
• Reinforce with department staff their role in collecting approved single-use supplies and restocking of reprocessed supplies.
• Communicate criteria for open but unused products. Will it be used as a stand-alone item when returned? Is it a product line still in use? Is it the only item of a multi-item set, can it be used as a stand-alone product?
• Establish a regular routine for placing collection containers and sending them out in prepaid shipping boxes (consider assigning this Responsibility to an individual or select team).
• Collaborate with staff to agree on process for where reprocessed items are placed on the supply carts for first use (not doing this is a common barrier to realizing projected savings).
• Regularly review quarterly reports from reprocessor and purchasing/invoicing to understand and communicate savings and quality control monitoring.
• Place collection policies for reprocessed products in department manuals.
Link to Getting started checklist - reprocessing.doc
Links/Resources:
• AHRMM Statement on Reprocessing
• Sample Policy [link to Sample Reprocessing Policy.doc]
• Sample Policy [link to Reprocessing of Single - Sample Policy and Procedure.doc]
• PPT from AMDR (Association of Medical Device Remanufacturers
• 2008-GAO-Report-on-TPR.pdf