Flexible endoscopes continue to make headlines due to the risk of infection stemming from their use on patients. Many hospitals find themselves in the unenviable position of determining how they can perform critical endoscope-based procedures while minimizing the risk of infection. There is ample evidence showing that endoscopes can spread life-threatening illnesses when not properly […]
The 4 Steps Of An Endoscope Risk Assessment Read More »
A recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins reveals that colonoscopies performed at ambulatory surgery centers lead to post-procedure infection rates that greatly surpass previous estimates. The study, sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, studied the results of colonoscopies and upper-GI endoscopies (EGDs) performed
Infection Rates From Colonoscopies Greatly Exceed Prior Estimates Read More »
HonorHealth, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based health system with over $1.7 billion in annual revenues, recently undertook a process to identify cost savings opportunities across the system. Early on, the joint-replacement service line jumped out as a prime candidate for cost savings. An early analysis by the five hospital system and their group purchasing organization pointed out
A medical supply rep from Maryland was recently charged in the theft of expensive medical kits from area hospitals that he later sold on eBay. Each of the medical kits were sold for approximately $33,000 each, netting the man nearly $200,000. As this article from The Washington Post explains: “Burke Slater, 52, of Gaithersburg, was
Expensive Medical Supplies Stolen From Hospitals Read More »
The first quarter of 2018 included 343 medical device recalls by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This was the highest for a first calendar quarter of any year on record and was up 126% from 2017. Experts point to the proliferation of software on medical devices as a primary driver for the record
Medical Device Recalls Reach Historic Highs In 2018 Read More »
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recently released guidelines for infection control during GI endoscopy and related procedures. The guidelines come at a time when reports of endoscope-related infections are becoming more prevalent in the media. While the overall incidences of such infections are rarely reported, there is a strong possibility of underreporting of adverse
ASGE Releases New Infection Control Guidelines For Endoscopy Read More »
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a public alert that warned about the risk of cross-contamination from the use of certain endoscope connectors commonly seen in gastrointestinal endoscopy. The alert primarily points out the risks associated with the use of 24-hour multi-patient use endoscope connectors that are labeled for use with multiple
FDA Issues Warning On Multi-Patient Endoscope Connectors Read More »
Recent research has once again shined the spotlight on the struggle hospitals face to rid their reusable medical endoscopes of dangerous bacteria. In this particular study, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, 71% of “patient-ready” scopes at 3 major US hospitals tested positive for bacteria. The study found problems in various types of
Hospitals Still Struggle To Combat Infectious Bacteria In Their Scopes Read More »
Due to the nature of how hospitals and health systems acquire supplies, product prices are constantly changing. Different hospitals in the same health system, and even different departments within the same hospital, may be paying different rates for the same items, and those prices are typically in flux. With supply chains and individual departments within
How Supply Price Inaccuracies Can Affect The Bottom Line Read More »
A recent survey conducted by Cardinal Health showed that 40% of hospital staff have cancelled a case due to an out-of-stock supply, and 69% of staff have had to delay a case while a missing supply is being tracked down. Having spoken to hundreds of staff in operating rooms, cath labs and interventional radiology labs,
Supply Stock-Outs Have An Outsized Effect On The Bottom Line Read More »