Healthcare Purchasing News reports that in an environment where Environmental Services (ES) administrators are asked to do more with less, healthcare facilities should look for innovative ways to reduce waste, select greener and more sustainable products, efficiently manage product usage that reduce costs along the entire supply chain process, and maintain quality and efficient operations. These measures will not only result in shared savings, but also help the environment without sacrificing quality.
Going green may be admirable but that idea needs to be understood. There is a lack of understanding as to what is truly green. Environmental Services need to focus on training and awareness so program details beyond just the cost of the service are understood. Everyone is concerned about the cost, but often the quality and service details are neglected. A program may be recommended by the appropriate authority then it’s given to the buyer or purchasing person who negotiates the cost without any knowledge of specific details.
Kevin Liszewski, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Accounts at Stryker Sustainability Solutions in Tempe, AZ described how the interest in reprocessed single-use devices has grown in popularity in recent years based on waste reduction and supply chain cost savings:
“The ES team plays a critical role in helping a facility achieve optimal results from its reprocessing program,” Liszewski said. “ES staff help collect devices to be reprocessed, thereby facilitating the achievement of waste reduction goals. To achieve your facility’s sustainability and cost-reduction goals, make sure that all involved staff — from ES teams to Supply Chain managers to clinicians — are properly educated and regularly reminded to put appropriate devices into the reprocessing collection bins after use.”
Read the full article here