What's New

Medical Device Reprocessing in the News...

Stryker Completes Acquisition of Ascent Healthcare Solutions

Styker Corporation announced December 31, 2009 the closing of its previously announced acquisition of Ascent Healthcare Solutions.  Stryker's full press release. 

Millennium Research Group: US Market for Reprocessed Electrophysiology Diagnostic Catheters to Grow over 15% through 2014.

Millennium Research Group (MRG), the "global authority on medical technology market intelligence" estimates that the US market for electrophysiology diagnostic catheters will grow at a rate of over 15% through 2014.  MRG's full press release.

HealthTrust Purchasing Group, Practice Greenhealth, and AMDR Present:: “Reprocessing of SUDs and Sustainability: Positioning Reprocessing and Remanufacturing to Contribute to Your Facility’s Environmental and Financial Bottom Lines.”  This webinar is scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2009 from 1-2 PM eastern time.  Click here for more information.

HealthTrust Purchasing Group Awarded Clinical Best Practices Award by AMDR...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NOVEMBER 1, 2009 – The Association of Medical Device Reprocessors (AMDR) announced this week it has awarded HealthTrust Purchasing Group, LP (HealthTrust) with its first annual Clinical Best Practices Award for utilization of regulated reprocessing as a Best Practice and for ongoing efforts to support the financial and environmental sustainability of its group purchasing organization membership.

HealthTrust has promoted the practice of reprocessing with members to reduce regulated medical waste and manage variable costs.  During 2008, HealthTrust diverted over one million pounds of regulated waste from landfills and incinerators and saved over $33 million dollars in device acquisition costs by reprocessing "single-use" devices through vendors Ascent Healthcare Solutions, Inc. and SterilMed, Inc. Full release.

Reprocessing fuels green strategies...

Check out the October issue of Healthcare Purchasing News for its interview with Brian Sullivan, CEO of SterilMed, Inc.  In it, Brian Sullivan notes that "In the current economic climate, hospitals are more determined than ever to reduce their costs and to leverage their supply chain savings.  Since reprocessing is one of the fastest ways hospitals can reduce their costs and environmental impact, healthcare facilities are seeking to optimize their single-use medical device reprocessing programs."     

A Medical Mystery: Why Health Care is So Expensive...

National Public Radio addresses how medical device costs contribute to health care's expense.  See, Chana Joffe-Walt's piece, A Medical Mystery: Why Health Care Is So Expensive (September 4, 2009).

Caris & Company Report Concludes that for the Reprocessing Industry, Business is Booming...

On August 6, 2009, Caris & Company released its report: Medical Device Reprocessing Accelerating, 10% Penetrated.  In it, Caris concludes, “Unprecedented hospital budget constraints and the eco-friendly recycling movement are driving 20-25% YoY equipment reprocessor revenue growth from a $250-300 MM industry revenue base."  Further,  Caris expects continued year-over-year reprocessing revenue growth of 25% through 2012 with "20%+ annual growth prospects for the next 5-10 years."  Caris confirmed that third-party reprocessors serve the nation's best hospitals noting that "99 of 100 top US hospitals as ranked by US News and World Report" reprocess with a third-party vendor  (free registration required for full report).

Leaner & Greener Operations; Environmental Benefits of Reprocessing...

The summer 2009 issue of HealthTrust Purchasing Group's The Source highlights the environmental benefits of reprocessing.  "It is frequently feasible for a single hospital to save more than $500,000 a year in supply costs and considerably reduce environmental waste." 

The article notes that "pressure continues to mount for U.S. health care providers as they strive to deliver high quality patient care with controlled costs while maintaining environmental responsibility for the communities they serve.  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated reprocessing opens the door to provide safe, effective patient care that reduces health care costs and eliminates waste.  Regulated reprocessing or remanufacturing of single-use devices (SUDs) is a key component of health care provider sustainability programs."

AMDR Supports Michigan Legislation to Regulate Inappropriate Device Reuse....

The Grand Rapids Free Press' July 10, 2009 Editorial: Stitching Up Patient Safety addresses Michigan-state legislation that seeks to regulate improper reuse of "single use" medical devices.  The Free Press' editorial notes, when speaking of AMDR's members, that "an entire industry has sprung up around reprocessing medical equipment to allow for safe reuse, and it is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration....Reprocessed products often cost about half the price of new equipment.  Smart reprocessing can shave billions from health care costs and reduce the tons of medical waste produced in this country.  The [Michigan] House bill acknowledges the benefits of well-regulated reprocessing.  It rightly allows doctors to obtain equipment from federally registered, regulated suppliers."  AMDR supports this legislation.   

America's Top Hospitals Reprocess...

U.S. News & World Report released its 2009 listing of America's best hospitals.  Of the nation's  21 Honor Roll Hospitals, or those that demonstrate unusual breadth of excellence, AMDR's members reprocess for 95 percent.  Over 4800 hospitals were evaluated.

Additionally, AMDR's members reprocess for 95 percent of those hospitals listed as the top 25 for Heart and Heart Surgery and 92 percent of the nation's 25 Best Hospitals for Orthopedics.

Ready to Reprocess?

Check out the July issue of Outpatient Surgery Magazine which features an article by Laura Gaminde, RN, BSN, MBA, CNOR: Ready to Reprocess Surgical Supplies?  6 Keys to Reusing Single-Use Devices Safely, Efficiently and Economically.

Premier Healthcare Alliance, GNYHA Ventures Identify Reprocessing as a  Healthcare Cost-Saver, Press Release, 06/15/09:

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a letter sent to President Obama and House and Senate leaders, the Premier healthcare alliance and GNYHA Ventures, Inc., Greater New York Hospital Association’s supply chain enterprise that includes group purchasing organizations (GPOs), said that hospitals could improve healthcare quality and achieve cumulative savings of $317 billion if certain policies are enacted to create a more competitive and transparent purchasing environment. The savings are based on an analysis conducted by the two groups and projected over 10 years, to be fully realized by 2019....

Specifically, savings opportunities identified by Premier and GNYHA Ventures include...

…FDA evidence-based oversight of reprocessing - FDA currently provides oversight and regulates the reprocessing of single-use devices (SUDs). Despite FDA regulation, many hospitals do not reprocess SUDs because of the single-use label. FDA could require manufacturers to show evidence that a medical device is unable to reused, including studies that indicate reuse would render the device unsafe…. Link to full release.