What Is Your Best Advice for Buying Drapes?

Watch for slippage
Impervious drapes are a must, and they must also provide the exposure necessary for the procedure. Some of the newer fabrics are slick and tend to slide off of the sterile field when you have your back turned - this can be inconvenient at the very least.

Karen Gabbert, RN, BSN
Clinical Director
Surgery Center of Kansas
Wichita, Kan.
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Look beyond cost
Don't just compare cost; compare materials, too. Cheap isn't always a cost savings if you have to re-prep and re-drape the patient because of a break in the integrity of the product.

Make it one-size-fits-all
Use drapes that are functional for or can be customized to many procedures across specialties. That way, you can save by buying one drape in bulk.

Dennis Fowler, RN
Purchasing Agent
East Columbus Surgery Center
Columbus, Ohio
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Keep patients dry
We've found it's worth spending a little extra to select products that really do prevent strike-through - and, therefore, potential infections - at the surgical field.

Suzanne Rodenheiser, RN, BSN, CNOR
Clinical Director
Delaware Surgery Center
Dover, Del.
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Reputable reps
Purchasing drapes is like purchasing gowns and gloves. There are so many people to please and just as many likes and dislikes. You just have to get your products to trial and go from there. It helps that we have a wonderful sales representative and contract. As a result, we buy all our drapes, gowns and masks from one company.

Yvonne Campbell, CST
Materials Manager
Winter Haven Ambulatory Surgical Center
Winter Haven, Fla.
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Anticipate your needs
Save yourself time by buying drapes that come with tape around the edges; if you do a lot of large cases, buy drapes that include a pouch around the open area.

Apples to apples
Evaluate adhesiveness; the adhesiveness of some drapes is better than on others. Also, check drape packs' contents on an item-to-item basis - gowns, stockingettes, sponges, towels, blades and drapes, for example - to determine which pack really is the cheapest.

Wayne Marler
Clinical Specialist
South Alabama Outpatient Services
Enterprise, Ala.
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Separate by specialty
Trial specialty-specific selections within entire lines of drapes first. You might find the arthroscopy drape of your dreams, but the same company may make a lousy laparotomy drape.

Kevin Gilbert, RN
Director of Hospital and Surgical Operations
Wenatchee Valley Medical Center
Wentachee, Wash.
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Consider the basics
Look at all the companies and find out who manufactures their drapes. Look at the thickness and integrity. Also make sure they are easy to understand when putting on a patient.

Tom Baker
Materials Manager
North Colorado Surgery Center
Greeley, Colo.
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