Hospitals Are Throwing Out Perfectly Usable Medical Supplies
Sunday, March 26, 2017
By s.e. smith, Care2 | News Analysis
If you've spent much time in a hospital, you've probably noticed piles of
medical supplies everywhere you look. But you might be surprised by the
hidden waste behind the stacks of butterfly needles, rolls of gauze and
myriad other tools that make a hospital tick.
A ProPublica investigation has revealed shockingly profligate waste in the
U.S. health care industry, and that's not good for anyone -- except the
hospitals in developing nations that receive discarded medical supplies from
charities that attempt to mitigate the waste.
There are many reasons why hospitals throw out perfectly usable supplies,
like single-use items that haven't expired yet or used medical equipment
that's in good working condition, if a little old.
One is the very real desire to adhere to the law and hospital policy -
regulations that aim to limit the spread of infection, for example. Thus,
equipment that might be contaminated is discarded -- even if it's not, or if
it could be cleaned to address the concern. Likewise, when patient rooms are
cleared, the supplies left in the room are just tossed, rather than being
restocked. For people in the ICU who may have rooms littered with packages
of gauze, tubing, needles, sterile saline and other supplies, that can add
up very quickly.
In surgery, strict infection protocols also tend to facilitate waste as
well. While the desire to keep surgical tools scrupulously sterile is
well-founded -- patients have better outcomes when surgeons use sterile
equipment -- some hospitals go a little overboard. Once something has been
brought into the operating room, it may be discarded after a procedure, even
if it wasn't used. And that's a major problem when expensive disposable
surgical instruments are involved.
Historically, all of these materials went straight into the garbage, posing
some environmental and health concerns. Medical waste can be bulky, and
sometimes needs special handling. Needles and scalpels require bulky sharps
containers, for example. First hospitals are using the resources needed to
make these supplies, and then they're tossing the implements without even
using them -- even if they're not expired or contaminated.
This practice is also expensive. Supplies can be a big part of hospital
overhead, so patients -- and their insurance providers -- are covering the
cost of goods purchased, but not used. In light of this, some advocates are
pushing hospitals to be more conscientious about training surgeons and other
personnel in how to reduce waste and cut down on costs for the facility
without compromising patient care.
ProPublica reports that people concerned about hospital waste started
putting out bins to collect usable discards so they could be redirected to
facilities in need. In developing nations, hospitals have trouble keeping
supplies in stock and often engage in potentially dangerous activities like
reusing needles and other supplies because they need to provide care with
what they have.
Some hospitals and clinics in the U.S. -- including in the prison system --
also struggle to get by on much less, while their wealthier, larger
counterparts cavalierly toss useful products.
To combat future waste, it will be critical to modify practices like how
supplies are bundled for surgery, how patient rooms are cleaned and prepared
for their next occupants and how facilities handle the phase-out of old
products. Sometimes supplies need to be discarded because they're
contaminated or dangerous -- as for example when hospitals convert to safety
needles from older models to protect health care providers and patients
alike. At other times, they could safely be phased out as new products are
brought in.
And don't worry: Medical charities that distribute supplies would be
delighted to stop handling hospital waste. After all, the process eats up a
lot of time, as personnel have to inspect, sort and package the materials.
Much like the hospitals they received donations from, it would be easier for
them to make bulk purchases from medical supply companies, buying exactly
what they need -- and no more.
This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not
be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
s.e. smith
s.e. smith is a writer, agitator and commentator based in Northern
California, with a journalistic focus on social issues, particularly gender,
prison reform, disability rights, environmental justice, queerness, class
and the intersections thereof, with a special interest in rural subjects.
smith delights in amplifying the voices of those who are often silenced and
challenging dominant ideas about justice, equality and liberation.
International publication credits include work for the Sydney Morning
Herald, the Guardian and AlterNet, among many other news outlets and
magazines.
Keep up with s.e. smith on Facebook. Follow s.e. smith on Twitter:
@realsesmith.
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