Transparency to Reduce Surgical Implant Waste

BACKGROUND: Rising health care costs and emphasis on value have placed the onus of reducing healthcare costs on the surgeon. METHODS: Financial data from 3,973 hip, knee, and shoulder arthroplasties performed at a physician owned orthopedic hospital was retrospectively reviewed over a two-year period. A wasted implant financial report was posted starting the second year of the study. Each surgeon's performance could be identified by his peers. RESULTS: After posting of the financial report, 1.11% of all hip and knee arthroplasty cases had a waste event compared to 1.50% during the control year. Shoulder arthroplasty waste events occurred twice as often than that observed in hip and knee arthroplasty during the study period. A decrease in waste events was observed but was not statistically significant (p = 0.30). CONCLUSIONS: Posting a non-blinded wasted implant data sheet was associated with a reduction in the number of wasted orthopedic surgical implants in this series, although the reduction was not statistically significant.

Costs of reusable and disposable aprons in a public teaching hospital / Costos de delantales de tejido reutilizables y de desechables en hospital universitario público / Custos de aventais de tecido reutilizáveis e de descartáveis em hospital universitário público

Objective To analyze the direct cost of reusable and disposable aprons in a public teaching hospital. Method Cross-sectional study of quantitative approach, focusing on the direct cost of reusable and disposable aprons at a teaching hospital in northern Paraná. The study population consisted of secondary data collected in reports of the cost of services, laundry, materials and supplies division of the institution for the year 2012 Results We identified a lower average cost of using disposable apron when compared to the reusable apron. The direct cost of reusable apron was R$ 3.06, and the steps of preparation and washing were mainly responsible for the high cost, and disposable apron cost was R$ 0.94. Conclusion The results presented are important for hospital managers properly allocate resources and manage costs in hospitals
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Objetivo Analizar el costo directo de delantales de tejido reutilizables y de desechables en hospital universitario público. Método Estudio transversal de abordaje cuantitativo, con énfasis en el costo directo de los delantales de tejido reutilizables y desechables, realizado en hospital universitario del norte de Paraná. La población de estudio estuvo compuesta de datos secundarios recogidos en informes de los servicios de costo, lavandería, división de material y provisiones de la institución, referentes al año de 2012. Resultados Se identificó un menor costo medio de utilización del delantal desechable cuando comparado con el costo del delantal de tejido reutilizable. El costo directo de utilización del delantal de tejido fue de R$3,06, siendo las etapas de confección y lavado las principales responsables de la elevación del costo, y el delantal desechable costó R$0,94. Conclusión Los resultados presentados constituyen herramientas para que los gestores hospitalarios puedan destinar adecuadamente los recursos y gestionar los costos en instituciones hospitalarias. .

Objetivo Analisar o custo direto de aventais de tecido reutilizáveis e de descartáveis em hospital universitário público. Método Estudo transversal de abordagem quantitativa, com enfoque no custo direto de aventais de tecido reutilizáveis e de descartáveis, realizado em hospital universitário do norte do Paraná. A população de estudo foi composta por dados secundários coletados em relatórios dos serviços de custo, lavanderia, divisão de material e suprimentos da instituição, referentes ao ano de 2012. Resultados Identificou-se um menor custo médio de utilização do avental descartável quando comparado ao do avental de tecido reutilizável. O custo direto de utilização do avental de tecido foi de R$ 3,06, sendo as etapas de confecção e lavagem as principais responsáveis pela elevação do custo, e o avental descartável custou R$ 0,94. Conclusão Os resultados apresentados constituem ferramentas para que os gestores hospitalares possam alocar adequadamente os recursos e gerenciar custos em instituições hospitalares.


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Cálculo dos custos do reprocessamento de pinças de uso único utilizadas em cirurgia video-assistida / Calculation of the reprocessing costs of single-use tongs used in video-assisted surgeries

O trabalho objetivou desenvolver proposta metodológica para cálculo dos custos do reprocessamento de pinças de cirurgia vídeoassistida de uso único. O reuso freqüente desses artigos ocorre pelo alto custo, entretanto, poucos estudos foram desenvolvidos a respeito desse enfoque. Elaborou- se um fluxograma com cada fase de reprocessamento, permitindo identificação dos componentes dos custos quanto à mão- de- obra, materiais e gastos indiretos. Pautado nesses dados, pôde-se construir a proposta metodológica para o cálculo de custos, baseada no método de custeio por absorção, incluindo a planilha para coleta de dados.

The frequent reuse of disposable forceps instruments is justified by their high cost. However, few studies have been carried out on this topic. The objective ofthis study was to develop a methodological proposal for calculatingthe reprocessing costs for these instruments used in videoassistedsurgery. A flowchart was developed for each phase of the reprocessing. This allowed subsequent identification of the cost components in terms of labor, materials and indirect expenses. From these data, a methodological proposal for cost calculation could be created, based on the Full Absorption Costing Method, including the spreadsheet for data collection.

El trabajo tuvo como objetivo desarrollar propuesta metodológicapara el cálculo de los costos del reprocesamiento de pinzas de cirugía video-asistida de uso único. El uso frecuente de esos artículos ocurre por el alto costo, no obstante, pocos estudiosfueron desarrollados respecto a ese enfoque. Se elaboró un fluxogramacon cada fase del reprocesamiento,permitiendo la identificación de los componentes de los costos en cuanto a la mano de obra, materiales y gastosindirectos. Teniendo como pauta esos datos, se puede construir la propuesta metodológica para el cálculo de costos, con base en el método de costeo por absorción, incluyendo la planilla pararecolección de datos.

Cost-effectiveness and safety of reusable tracheal suction tubes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the repetitive use of disposable tracheal suction tubes is cost-effective and safe over the single use. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The cost intrinsic to the washing, cleaning, re-sterilization by ethylene oxide gas, and processing was determined and compared to the cost generated by disposable tubes. The reused disposable suction tubes were also determined for their properties in physical characters and probable contamination and damages. RESULTS: The evaluation showed that cost from single-use disposable suction tubes (8.66 baht) was cheaper than expenses generated from processing steps for recycling of disposable tubes (9.92 baht). The use of a disposable tube only once should minimize the risks posed by the use of the potentially unsafe reused disposable tubes both to the patients and health care workers. CONCLUSION: Recycling of tracheal suction tubes was neither cost-effective nor safe.

Comparison of costs for reusable and disposable syringes.

The cost for reusable and disposable syringes was studied in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, a university hospital in the northern part of Thailand. The cost for operating reusable syringes includes that for cleaning and sterilization. This consists of labour, replacement for defective syringes, tap water, electricity, depreciation of instruments. The cost for disposable items was calculated from the number of syringes used multiplied by the price of the individual size. Results showed that 34,598 syringes were used monthly from August to October 1989. The cost for reusable syringes was 84,714 baht in comparison with 81,874 baht for disposable items. The latter was cheaper by 2,840 baht per month. It is concluded that disposable syringes are cheaper, at least in this university hospital.

Comparison of costs for disposable and reusable syringes and needles in Siriraj Hospital.

The costs for disposable and re-usable syringes and needles were compared in Siriraj Hospital, in July 1988. Data were collected from all wards regarding number of items used or replaced. Labour costs for recycling re-usable items were estimated by close observation. The costs for disposable and re-usable syringes and needles were 498,039.50, 193,874.45, 69,410.00 and 27,366.95 baht respectively. It can be concluded that re-usable items cost only 36 per cent of disposable ones. It is evident that re-usable syringes and needles should be appropriate for hospitals in Thailand at present.