Ideas That Work: Add to Your Surgical Packs to Cut Supply Costs

Practical pearls from your colleagues

If you want to reduce your supply costs, conventional wisdom says you need to reduce the number of items in your surgical packs. But adding items doesn’t automatically equal extra costs. In fact, as counterintuitive as it sounds, strategically adding items to your packs can lead to savings in several areas. That’s what Ashley Guillory, MBA-HCA, RN, administrator for LOS Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery Center in Lafayette, discovered when she took a closer look at her overall efficiency initiatives and found a prime opportunity to streamline.

“We are constantly pulling an additional ChloraPrep for most cases,” says Ms. Guillory. “Our circulator preps the surgical site, and then our surgeons like to do a second prep prior to incision.” Rather than continuing to grab and open a separate item case after case, Ms. Guillory spoke with her vendor and wound up customizing the surgical packs so that they included an additional applicator. This small change in thinking accomplished two goals: increasing efficiencies while reducing cost. She stresses that the key to creative and customizable surgical packs is having a solid relationship with the company you purchase from. “It’s crucial to have great collaboration with your supply vendor,” says Ms. Guillory. “You want a partner who has a true appreciation for your success and who understands your needs when it comes to surgery packs and par levels.” OSM