We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Unused US Medical Supplies Could Support Hospitals Abroad

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 25 Nov 2014
Print article
Major hospitals across the United States collectively throw away at least USD 15 million a year in unused operating room (OR) surgical supplies that could be salvaged and used to ease critical shortages, improve surgical care, and boost public health in developing countries.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH; Baltimore, MD, USA) based this estimate on data from an initiative known as Supporting Hospitals Abroad with Resources and Equipment (SHARE), which recovers and delivers unused surgical supplies from JHH to two surgical centers in Ecuador. The researchers tracked utilization of 19 high-demand surgical items donated to the Ecuadorian hospitals over three years, which included gauze, disposable syringes, sutures, and surgical towels. They then extrapolated the amount and value of the donations to 232 US surgical centers with caseloads similar to that of the JHH.

The results showed that if the 232 American hospitals saved and donated unused surgical supplies, they would generate materials worth at least USD 15 million annually. According to the report, the staggering waste of surgical supplies is rooted in the common practice of bundling surgical materials in ways that streamline OR readiness and efficiency, but once opened, everything in the bundle that is unused is thrown away. Donating unused material could thus also serve as a means of reducing the cost and environmental impact of medical waste disposal. The report was published online on October 16, 2014, in the World Journal of Surgery.

“Perfectly good, entirely sterile and, above all, much-needed surgical supplies are routinely discarded in American operating rooms,” said lead author Richard Redett, MD, a pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the JHH Children’s Center. “We hope the results of our study will be a wakeup call for hospitals and surgeons across the country to rectify this wasteful practice by developing systems that collect and ship unused materials to places that desperately need them.”

The researchers stressed that it is important to matching donor leftovers to recipient hospital, which will prevent unnecessary shipping costs and avoid creating medical waste locally. In addition, the receiving hospital must have a demonstrated capability and the equipment to clean and sterilize the shipped materials before use in the OR.

Related Links:

Johns Hopkins Hospital



Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Gold Member
Real-Time Diagnostics Onscreen Viewer
GEMweb Live
Silver Member
Compact 14-Day Uninterrupted Holter ECG
NR-314P
New
Bladder Scanner
Z3

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: Researchers have developed a novel risk score for cardiovascular complications after bone marrow transplant (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Tool Predicts Cardiovascular Risks after Bone Marrow Transplantation

Every year, thousands of people undergo bone marrow transplants to potentially cure serious diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, and immune deficiency disorders. While these transplants can be lifesaving,... Read more

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: The Early Bird Bleed Monitoring System provides visual and audible indicators of the onset and progression of bleeding events (Photo courtesy of Saranas)

Novel Technology Monitors and Lowers Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Heart Procedures

Bleeding complications at the femoral access site can significantly hamper recovery, affecting the success of procedures, patient satisfaction, and overall healthcare costs. It is crucial for surgeons... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The new eye-safe laser technology can diagnose traumatic brain injury (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Diagnostic Hand-Held Device Detects Known Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

The growing need for prompt and efficient diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major cause of mortality globally, has spurred the development of innovative diagnostic technologies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.