Lessons learned while implementing a reusable orthopedic assistive devices recycling program in the pediatric...

Lower extremity injuries are a common pediatric emergency presentation that require families to purchase crutches. These may not be affordable for many families, and crutches are often stored or discarded after treatment. There is a need for a solution to reduce the financial burden for families and medical waste. Using Quality Improvement methodology, our group implemented a reusable orthopedic assistive devices recycling program (ROAR) where crutches were dispensed for return and re-use in our pediatric emergency department.

Our aim was to dispense 120 pairs, or at least 50% of crutches used in our department at no cost. After collaborative planning, an operational workflow was designed, and the program was launched in April of 2024.

To date, 57 pairs of crutches were dispensed to families at no cost. 25 pairs of these crutches were returned at the time of submission. This represents a 44% return rate within the ROAR program. The program was well received by patients and staff, but faced barriers in recuperation of crutches, ultimately limiting its ability to meet our aim and increasing the cost of the program.

Valuable progress was made including alleviating some financial strain on families in purchasing medical devices in our emergency department. In future iterations, adoption and staff buy-in should be maximized by emphasizing repeated education for staff, simple documentation and creative replacement of supplies including considering device donations.