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Both reusable and single-use medical supplies have a place in our healthcare system, but when it comes to supporting aseptic practices that help reduce healthcare-associated infection (HAI) rates, disposable medical supplies provide reusable supplies A degree of certainty that cannot be provided.
Medicare payments are tied to quality measures, including infection rates, under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Acquired Conditions Reduction Program7. Hospitals in the bottom quartile receive reduced payments from CMS, incentivizing patient safety to be a top priority in an effort to reduce hospital costs and readmissions.
Some reusable non-critical medical supplies are cost-effective and necessary in today's world. But hospitals and healthcare providers have a responsibility to find a balance between protecting the environment and providing good infection control. Prioritizing the use of single-use medical supplies in intensive care units such as the ICU can be a cost-saving measure by reducing infection rates, length of stay, and readmission rates8.
Hospitals and healthcare providers make choices every day that impact the bottom line. Reusable medical supplies are an essential part of a healthcare system tasked with reducing costs and reducing waste, especially when the risk of infection is low. However, in high-risk areas where the risk of infection is high and costs are high, priority should be given to the use of disposables.
