There are a number of inaccurate perceptions about sustainability strategies among health care leaders. And in today’s changing environmental landscape, many supply chain leaders may be asking if they still need to focus on it. The answer is yes, it should be a strategic business priority that is achievable and measurable, and when approached through this lens, can bring savings and long-term value to hospitals and health systems.
For example, clinicians often equate reprocessed tools with lower quality, when in truth, the opposite is often true. Additionally, many executives see sustainability as another costly budget line item when it can actually create bottom-line efficiencies when approached as a long-term shift rather than a one-off process or procedure shift that is not sustained.
It’s time to debunk sustainability myths in health care and get to the heart of why sustainable supply chain practices are not only the right step forward, but also offer inherent advantages on the financial savings and patient satisfaction front.
The 5 Best Medical Billing Outsourcing Companies
Medical billing is a tedious administrative task, but outsourcing it may be the key to increased revenue. Explore the top medical billing outsourcing companies and the benefits of partnering with one.
Myth #1: Reprocessing results in subpar clinical options
Reprocessing in today’s hospitals speaks to the process of reusing single-use medical devices after they have been made safe for reuse according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards. This may include cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing these devices and inspecting them carefully. While tremendous opportunity exists to decrease emissions and waste through reprocessing, there is a misperception among many clinicians that the quality of these products is subpar to a brand-new product.
The real story: There is a strong argument that can be made that reprocessed goods are actually of higher quality. At a minimum, they are equal in quality to brand-new products. And, shifting to reusable products extends the life of each purchase.
For example, consider a pulse oximeter. Quality checks on a brand-new device require only that a sample batch is scrutinized — maybe two or three out of 1,000 that are manufactured. The standard for reprocessed options is much higher: The bar is a 1:1 ratio.
The Top 5 Home Care Franchise Opportunities in the U.S.
The home care industry is booming. As Baby Boomers age and more families seek in-home solutions for loved ones, demand for home care services is at an all-time high.
Substantial waste exists in today’s operating rooms. That is a fact. Given that the assurance of a high-quality product actually increases with reprocessing, health care organizations should strive to mitigate their environmental impact through reuse of medical devices. Not only is it an important step toward greater sustainability, but health systems stand to realize considerable cost savings and improve the resiliency of their supply chain.
Health systems can dramatically reduce medical waste and save money by implementing a strategic electrophysiology equipment reprocessing program that balances environmental sustainability, financial innovation and quality of care.
Myth #2: Sustainability practices create a new budget line item
Today’s health systems operate within razor-thin financial margins. Often, the concept of creating a high-functioning strategy for sustainability seems daunting and costly.
The real story: While sustainability initiatives do require upfront and ongoing investment, the ROI that can be achieved makes the business case for putting forward the resources an easy one to make. The goal is to just take first steps, transitioning to more sustainable products and solutions over the long term.
Effective inventory management is an important step forward to get ahead of financial and physical waste. Health systems that are spread across facilities and geographics must go beyond siloed supply chain strategies that have traditionally characterized operations. Transparency within the greater supply chain is key to improving product redistribution, which can ensure shared cost efficiencies and ongoing resiliency.
Technology is a critical enabler of transparency. Supply leaders should look to solutions that allow individual facilities to post expiring items or items no longer needed. Then, items can be redistributed across a health system network to avoid waste. Internal courier networks that help redistribute products have proven their worth across many systems, creating a notable bottom-line impact.
Ongoing evaluation of the environmental impact of various products can help health systems make better choices that support more sustainable practices. For example, the anesthetic gas desflurane has a dramatically more significant impact on the environment compared to other anesthetic gasses. This simple move can help health systems reduce their emissions in a significant way. Removing desflurane vaporizers reduces CO2 emissions, which like reducing passenger cars on the road, is a big step in the right direction.
A call to action
The reality is that there is much to gain on multiple fronts when the C-suite prioritizes reducing a health care organization’s carbon footprint that includes financial health, patient care outcomes and patient experience. Physician buy-in, education and vendor alignment lay the right foundation for first steps.
Photo: ChrisGorgio, Getty Images
John Wright is Chief Operating Officer at Advantus Health Partners, a health care solutions company that makes supply chain easier for its clients through streamlined supply chain management, organizational purchasing, operations and cost-savings efficiencies. With more than 25 years of experience as a health care operator, John is recognized for his strong track record of maximizing efficiencies and reducing costs. At Advantus Health Partners, John is responsible for the overall success of the supply chain, including production planning, inventory management, integrated logistics and consulting services that provide customized solutions to complex challenges faced in health care. Previously, John was vice president of supply chain and support services operations at Intermountain Healthcare. John holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in business administration from Virginia Tech and has served as a Sergeant in the Virginia Army National Guard.
This post appears through the MedCity Influencers program. Anyone can publish their perspective on business and innovation in healthcare on MedCity News through MedCity Influencers. Click here to find out how.