HUPdate (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania newsletter)
June 27, 2012
by Greg Richter
Thanks to reprocessing initiatives, HUP saved $1,257,302 last year and prevented 14,683 pounds of medical waste from being added to local landfills. Reprocessed instruments are cleaned, tested to make sure they work, and resterilized. They work as well as new but can be purchased for about half the price.
In a major academic medical center such as HUP, the savings add up. Indeed, since January alone, HUP has reprocessed 17,500 pulse oxymeters (sensors that measure oxygen level), 1,200 EP diagnostic catheters, and 100 ultrasound scalpels, which comprise the majority of the money saved…