Hospitals Are Going Green: Used Medical Equipment is Safe, Cost-Effective, and Reduces Waste
The practice of recycling medical equipment and medical supplies is rapidly becoming more acceptable in the United States. The medical industry is responsible for an incredibly large amount of waste. While the food industry still occupies the top ranked spot for waste production, the medical profession is the second largest producer of waste in the country.
Academic Journal reported that a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital have concluded that reusing medical equipments and supplies is safe, when proper sterilization, testing and recalibration are implemented. By recycling some medical supplies that are often disposed of after one use can save hospitals millions of dollars annually. Hospitals staff, like most people opt for convenient solutions to everyday problems. However, with a little planning and some effort, hospitals can find many ways to cuts cost and decrease waste.
When studying healthcare practices for insurance purposes, researchers noted that expensive items such as ultrasonic cutting tools and laparoscopic ports are disposed of after one use. In addition, single use medical supplies that are opened and not used are thrown away because they “may” have been contaminated. The study also determined that gently used materials, such as towels and surgical gowns are also disposed after one use unnecessarily. Proper cleansing of these items would be more cost effective and would not jeopardize the health or safety of the patients.
The researchers concluded that hospitals, mainly because they are large in size and produce incredible amounts of waste should lead the effort and set an example for other medical facilities to investigate and relentlessly procure more reusable tools. According to Dr. Martin Makary, an associate professor and surgeon at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, hospitals can implement many strategies that will indefinitely save money and decrease waste.
