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SpecialtyCare. “Everyone who purchased goods from a grocery store witnessed the effects of supply chain disruption caused by the pandemic. For hospitals, most began in January to stockpile supplies in anticipation of the disease’s arrival. We saw that inventories were quickly depleted. Manufacturing capability, dependability and logistics became the pinch points. As short- ages began to be felt, our creativeness allowed for workaround solutions, such as reprocessing N95 masks, etc. Fortunately, the pandemic was not as devastating as predicted and did not result in an overrun of hospitals’ capacity to treat patients.” But K. Mark Wiencek, Ph.D., Lead Microbiologist, Contec Inc., points to the pandemic-driven supply shortages as introducing some “new dynamics into the classic debate” of reusables vs. disposables. “In some cases, healthcare associates switched from whatever type they were using before the pandemic to any option they could procure,” Wiencek recalled. “The switch from the pre- ferred disposables to reusable options usually was associated with PPE. However, there have been situations, like with cleaning textiles (e.g., mop pads, wipers), where the opposite occurred – personnel switched to domestically pro- duced disposables due to issues with off-shore supply chains for reusable items.
Mark Wiencek
“Regardless of the drivers, reprocessing textiles can be a chal- lenging process, even for products that are designed to be re- cleaned or re-laundered and possibly re-sterilized,” he continued.
21_0166_Healthcare_Purch_News_FEB Mod: December 31, 2020 10:46 AM Print: 01/08/21 8:52:08 AM page 1 v7
“It is important that healthcare institutions properly audit the reprocessing operations, whether they are conducted internally or through an outside contractor. Improper laundering can lead to damage that can compromise the performance of the item or increase the risk of cross-contamination if hazardous microbes, chemicals or drugs are left on the items after processing.” When examining the notion of reusable vs. disposable supplies – and more narrowly, whether to disinfect disposable supplies – much of the debate centers on four factors, according to Don Lowe, Spokesperson, ProTEC-USA. Cost: “Material used to make reusable gowns is in very tight demand therefore, not only maing it etremely diffi cult to source but driving up the cost of goods to a premium that is sub- stantially higher than disposable counterparts,” Lowe indicated. “Much of the material itself is imported, leading the countries of manufacture to commonly prohibit export of said goods. “Disposable gowns can be procured more readily and typically
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at a lower cost versus that of reusable alternatives,” he continued. “Utilizing domestic manufacturers of disposable gowns allows healthcare organizations to shorten supply chains and reduce exposure for potential delivery disruptions.” Maintenance: “Reusable gowns carry a life span,” he said. “This raises several challenges: How can one be sure the exact number of washes that a gown has gone through? How can one be sure that the safeguards and protections built into the gown don’t start to diminish after 0, fi ve or even two washes Furthermore, the scorecard is left in the hands of laundry operators, opening the possibility of human error on a wash count of gowns. Great care must be taken as part of any gown maintenance program.” Risk: “Picking up from maintenance, there is an inherent risk associated with using a reusable gown that while cleaned, can only be donned with the assumption that it was washed as per manufacturer specifi cations and that it has not reached its recom- mended end-of-use state,” he noted. “On-shored supply chains are a factor here too, as there is inherent value in saving time and reducing the potential to received tainted orders.” Confi dence: “Healthcare organizations can feel a sense of
assurance knowing that the disposable gowns that they’ve procured for their team will provide superior performance and protection as they work with patients in high-contamination risk situations,” he added. Lowe recognizes the challenges the topic of reusing disposable gowns brings.
“It’s critical that hospital administrators implement and follow all FDA guidelines and procedures when looking to extend the use of reusable and disposable gowns,” he said. “There should be strict oversight to ensure that the safety of medical professionals and patients are never compromised.”
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For the record, the FDA does not condone the reuse of a variety of products and, in fact, advises against the reuse of disposable gowns. But the federal agency does make an allowance for certain types of respirators. Still, the pandemic taught healthcare organizations some valu- able lessons. Four key wake-up calls should have been learned so far, according to Agoston. . ven with an effective and effi cient supply chain, it can be quickly disrupted and depleted,” he said. “For this reason, back-up supplies and alternative products are a must. In addi- tion, having dependable manufacturing capability and logistic support are a national requirement for critical medical supplies.
12 February 2021 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
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