Stakeholder perspectives on scaling up medical device reprocessing: A qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Sustainability
• Medical Device Management
• Environmental Health

Background:

• The US healthcare sector is a major polluter with significant health impacts.
• Medical device reprocessing (MDR) can reduce waste, emissions, costs, and improve supply chains.
• Despite benefits, MDR adoption remains low, necessitating an understanding of its barriers and facilitators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively explore the barriers and facilitators influencing the scale-up of medical device reprocessing (MDR).
• To identify key implementation factors within a large academic health system and national organizations.

Main Methods:

• In-depth interviews with 17 stakeholders from a New England academic health system and national MDR organizations.
• Site observations within the health system.
• Thematic analysis guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Main Results:

• Barriers include regulatory and manufacturer practices (e.g., forced obsolescence), variable alignment with hospital priorities (cost savings vs. perceived functionality), physician preferences, and inconsistent staff knowledge.
• Lack of infrastructure for evaluating and maintaining MDR programs was also identified.

Conclusions:

• Recommendations include federal policies against forced obsolescence, life cycle assessments for purchasing decisions, staff audit/feedback reports, and dedicated program managers for MDR sustainability.
• Addressing these factors can help realize the environmental and financial benefits of MDR nationally.