The recent revelation of a potential endoscope-related outbreak at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar reminds us once again of the risks that improperly reprocessed scopes represent to our patients. This unfortunate episode potentially exposed 135 airmen to such diseases as HIV, hepatitis B and C and other potentially fatal bugs. The most disturbing […]
What A Recent Outbreak in a US Military Hospital Can Teach Us Read More »
Why Explore Supply Tracking Automation? Hospitals and health systems in the US are typically generating annual revenues in the hundreds of millions to billions of dollars. Their profit margins are razor thin and getting squeezed tighter each day. Yet hospitals, and specifically their procedural areas like the ORs, Cath Labs and Interventional Radiology, are sitting
Comparing Supply Tracking Technologies Read More »
The recent issues surrounding scope-related infections continue to gather media attention. A recent article by the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette follows the story of how UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA has managed its endoscope reprocessing since a scope-related outbreak in 2012. In the article, UPMC points to its adoption of additional steps added to its reprocessing guidelines since
Spotlight on New Best Practices For Scope Reprocessing Read More »
In today’s healthcare environment, it’s more important than ever to maximize the revenue your hospital is receiving for each procedure. Hospitals are being squeezed from both ends – declining reimbursements and increasing supply costs for more complex medical devices. Research shows that the average 350-bed hospital is missing $22 million in revenue capture opportunities per
Are You Maximizing Your Revenue Per Procedure? Read More »
Hospitals and healthcare providers are under increased scrutiny by The Joint Commission (TJC), the FDA, DNV and even Congress to improve the documentation practices around flexible endoscope usage. There are articles are in the media seemingly every day about how a hospital was cited, sued or otherwise put in a negative light around their endoscope
Why Your Automated Endoscope Reprocessor Is Not a Documentation System Read More »
We’ve all seen it (and maybe even done it ourselves) – thousands of dollars of medical devices tucked away in our desks, filing cabinets, ceilings, wherever we can find a secret space. This isn’t a practice intended to waste hospital dollars, it’s done with the best intention – patient safety. When a patient needs a
How to Use Data to Get Lean With Medical Devices and Increase Patient Safety Read More »
The first trial accusing Olympus Corp. of wrongdoing associated with contaminated duodenoscopes in US hospitals is underway. The case surrounds the death of Richard Bigler, a 57 year-old patient who underwent a scope procedure while battling pancreatic cancer in 2013. It’s alleged that during the procedure, a tainted duodenoscope at Virginia Mason Medical Center passed
First Olympus Superbug Trial Underway And What It Means For All Hospitals Read More »
A recent survey conducted by Cardinal Health showed that 24% of hospital staff have seen or heard of an expired product being used on a patient during a procedure (original article here). This comes as no surprise, as we have witnessed the usage of expired inventory at hospitals first-hand. Without the proper processes and vigilance
How Your Medical Devices Can Tell You When They’re About To Expire Read More »
All successful endoscopy practices within private practices and hospitals face the same dilemma – how do I track down scopes that have gone missing? With numerous docs, interns, techs and nurses all having access to all the scopes in your facility, it’s a near impossibility to keep track of all of your scopes with 100%
How To Make Your Scopes Tell You When They’re Missing Read More »
One of the biggest obstacles to value analysis teams within hospitals is physicians who are reluctant to switch devices or vendors. Physicians often grow attached to certain medical devices, with good reason – they have been proven to work for them and their patients. Often times, showing evidence that a substitute item with similar functionality
Be Transparent With Physicians on Pricing to Drive More Value Read More »