A report from Johns Hopkins said that U.S. hospitals collectively throw away at least $15 million a year in unused operating room surgical supplies that could be salvaged, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.
The report highlights the opportunity to reduce the cost and environmental impact of medical waste disposal.
The waste of supplies, researchers said, is rooted in the common practice of bundling surgical materials in ways that streamline operating room readiness and efficiency, but once opened, everything in the bundle that is unused is thrown away.
In the study, materials topping the 19-item surgical supplies list included gauze, disposable syringes, sutures and surgical towels.
Contaminants Under Foot: A Closer Look at Patient Room Floors
Power Outages Largely Driven by Extreme Weather Events
Nemours Children's Health Opens New Moseley Foundation Institute Hospital
Code Compliance Isn't Enough for Healthcare Resilience
Ribbon Cutting Marks First Phase Completion for New Montefiore Einstein Facility