Session Description 

Healthcare organizations are increasingly recognizing that third-party reprocessing of medical devices labeled “single use” is a safe and effective process that can help redirect valuable financial resources back into patient care while significantly reducing the volume of regulated medical waste generated by the organization and reducing the operating room’s (OR) supply budget. The US FDA stringently regulates the reprocessing of these devices and requires third party reprocessors to meet the same quality and safety standards as originally manufactured single-use devices. Reprocessing of single-use devices is now common practice in many ORs, with all of US News and World Report’s “Honor Roll” hospitals choosing to reprocess single-use devices, and 77% of Practice Greenhealth Award winners in 2010 choos­ing to reprocess medical devices for a combined savings of more than $10.8 million. Despite the widespread adoption of this practice, many healthcare institutions continue to meet resistance from skeptical surgeons or clinicians - driven in large part by education from original equipment manufacturers with a vested interest in getting clinical staff to back the continued purchase of disposable devices rather than the less expensive reprocessed versions. Come and learn how two different health systems have worked with their clinical staff, administrators and ORs to set up safety-based, high quality programs for reprocessing FDA-approved single-use medical devices and have reaped the financial rewards and environmental benefits related to this program.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the safety, quality and regulatory oversight for reprocessing of single-use devices in the OR.
• Detail the different kinds of devices that can be safely and effectively reprocessed under FDA guidelines.
• Highlight different mechanisms for engaging and building support from surgeons, other clinical and OR staff, administrators, infection control and supply chain.
• Identify useful strategies for dealing with interference from original equipment manufacturers in program launch
• Explain the process for segregation and collection of reprocessable devices in the OR.
• Delineate how to troubleshoot the buy-back and usage of reprocessed devices with clinical staff.
• Quantify the financial and environmental benefits of a comprehensive single-use device reprocessing initiative in the OR.

Presenters

Marc Feldman, Sr. Supply Chain Consultant, UC Health

Denise Robson, Director of Surgical Services, CHW

Denise Robson, RN, MBA Administrator, Surgical Services has been involved in Hospital Supply chain for nine years and prior to that she had over 15 years of acute care nursing experience. During the past seven years with Catholic Healthcare West, she has been responsible for all surgical related initiatives, including the formalization of reprocessing with a multi-million dollar annual savings. Denise has presented this topic to Premier Healthcare Organization at the 2009 Annual Breakthroughs meeting and to the Association of National Account Executives. Denise received her BSN from The University of Texas Health Science Center, and her MBA from The University of Phoenix.

Pricing

Member: $0  Non-member: $29