2010 SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS GUIDE
Cost cutting requires surgical precision
by Jeannie Akridge
F
rom simple scalpels to complex mini- your count sheets to more than one
mally invasive tools, surgical instru- company to quote new instrument
ments comprise a growing portion of sets.”
a hospital’s supply budget. Researching in- “Don’t let price alone fool you,”
strument manufacturers, evaluating prod- advised Nancy Vacante, director of
uct quality, choosing optimal devices for research and development for
your facility and cost effectively maintain- Olympus’ EndoSite Consulting divi-
ing them helps drive productivity and qual- sion. “Consider the whole package
ity patient care. But how do you make that into any instrument purchase deci-
happen amid tightening budgets and con- sion. Factors to consider include:
stantly evolving technology? With our an- product quality, service inclusions,
nual Surgical Instruments Guide, Healthcare warranty details, on-site loaners (or
Purchasing News offers relevant and useful not), trade-in value, etc. If all factors
product and process information that hos- are weighed carefully, the ‘total cost
An instrument inventory list from Spectrum Surgical
pitals can rely on all year. of ownership’ may actually be less
“When revenue declines, it is still impor- with the ‘higher priced’ vendor.” but are being underutilized. There are in-
tant that the standard of care be maintained And don’t let accessory/device usage de- strument tracking software programs, like
and continuously improved,” remarked cisions go unchecked, she added. “Remem- CareFusion’s V. Mueller IMPRESS, that
John D. Parson, vice president – Financial ber that the annual disposable device ex- will help hospitals look at underutilized
Services, Olympus. “Compromising patient penses typically exceed the capital dollars instrument sets and then compare them to
care, your competitive position or the abil- spent…yet they often get only half of the another set. For example, a doctor may use
ity to attract and hold top quality physician scrutiny when it comes to purchase deci- a set only once in every six months, but it
talent are not acceptable options.” sions. All device usage should be carefully may contain 70% of the instruments he/
“Surgical facilities are in a difficult spot,” monitored and evaluated for quality, effec- she needs. Quality instrument tracking
described Robert Edelstein, president, Mil- tiveness and cost considerations.” systems perform this function, along with
lennium Surgical. “They are continually Keep in mind quality instruments are es- other types of analysis to best utilize a
challenged with maintaining the quality of sential for long-term value, offered Jamie hospital’s budget.
the surgical instruments they purchase, Carruthers, director of marketing, surgical “By using an instrument tracking system,
buying instruments that will last, satisfy- instruments, CareFusion. “The hospital the hospital can better understand when
ing surgeons, and lowering cost.
2010 SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS GUIDE
should ensure the instruments they are pur- and where their instruments are being lost,”
“Adding to this challenge is the trend for chasing are of the highest quality to help he continued. “Tracking systems can also
surgical facilities to reduce staff, forcing em- maintain product longevity. Instruments re-deploy underutilized instruments into
ployees charged with surgical instrument should meet the ASTM standard for OR new sets; essentially better using what hos-
purchasing to be a jack of all, master of grade instrumentation and have a lifetime pitals already have in their inventory.
none,” he continued. “Many facilities have warranty.” CareFusion allows you to have an instru-
enough difficulty to even identify the in- Surgical instrument decisions should in- ment tracking system without an outright
strument they need, let alone effectively volve all of the key players, Vacante advo- purchase for the system, again conserving
compare cost.” cated. “One of the fastest ways to deplete a the capital budget.”
HPN talked to several surgical instrument surgical instrument budget or any equip- “Consider having your instrument ven-
vendors and manufacturers about what it ment budget is to allow one group or divi- dor come in and do a physical inventory of
takes to get a handle on instrument costs. sion within the healthcare provider prac- your instrument sets, even if it is only on a
Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp.’s tice to have full autonomy over equipment small scale,” added Carruthers. “A well-
vice president of operations and chief cus- decisions. A team approach is recom- qualified instrument sales representative
tomer advocate, Matt Rudolph, noted that mended. Capital equipment committees may be able to help identify possible issues
shopping for the best serve a very useful and effec- with your instruments before they become
value is especially tive mission in this regard.” something that will affect your budget.”
important for more Stressed Vacante, “Clean up your inven-
expensive surgical Inventory tory! Most facilities save outdated equip-
instruments. “Obtain
management
ment for the ‘what if we ever need that
multiple quotes for
Be resourceful with the in-
again’ scenario. Remember that most ven-
larger purchases,” he
BD Atomic Edge Accurate Depth
struments you have on hand,
dors offer trade-in values that decline over
said. “Your hospital’s
Knives, designed for making
reinforced Carruthers. “One
time. Don’t let unused equipment depreci-
group purchasing
limbal relaxing and groove of the quickest ways to de-
ate and trade it in instead toward the pur-
organization (GPO) incisions, use single-crystal silicon
plete a surgical instrument
chase price of something that you’ll use.”
may not always have
to deliver performance equal to
budget is by buying instru- See SURGICAL INSTRUMENT GUIDE
the lowest price. Give
that of a diamond blade.
ments that you already have, on page 50
48 March 2010 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS
www.hpnonline.com
1003-SIG.pmd 48 2/15/2010, 9:11 AM
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