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Use of disposable products in surgical practice
Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|January 1, 1976
Summary
For surgical supplies, the switch from reusable to disposable items in hospitals is rarely driven by cost savings. Factors like convenience and surgeon preference often outweigh economic considerations for disposable medical devices.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Surgical Technology
- Medical Device Industry
Background:
- Disposable medical products are a significant segment of the multi-billion dollar health devices industry.
- The use of disposable versus reusable surgical products is a key consideration for hospitals.
- Economic factors are often assumed to be the primary driver for adopting disposable medical supplies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the economic viability of disposable surgical products compared to reusable alternatives in a hospital setting.
- To identify the primary factors influencing the adoption of disposable surgical items by healthcare facilities.
- To analyze the cost-effectiveness of disposable versus reusable surgical apparel.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of heavy-usage and low-usage disposable surgical products in a 1,000-bed hospital.
- Comparison of per-use costs for disposable and reusable surgical gowns and drapes.
- Review of a 24-hospital study on surgical apparel costs.
Main Results:
- Economic savings are rarely the main reason for hospitals to switch from reusable to disposable surgical products.
- Factors such as individual preference, availability, convenience, and safety significantly influence the adoption of disposables.
- For larger items like gowns and drapes, reusable options remain more cost-effective per use than disposable counterparts.
- Smaller items like caps, masks, and shoe covers showed comparable costs between disposable and reusable options.
Conclusions:
- Hospitals should consider a comprehensive range of factors beyond just economy when deciding between disposable and reusable surgical supplies.
- The decision-making process for adopting disposable medical devices should be individualized to each hospital's specific circumstances.
- While disposables offer convenience, the cost-effectiveness of reusable surgical items, particularly for larger products, remains a critical consideration.