1 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8
While outsourcing
cataract surgery
equipment can be a
great option, it
doesn't negate the
need to monitor
your spending. Here
are a few cost-sav-
ing steps we've
taken:
• Prune your packs. We periodically review the contents of our
outsourced surgery packs to ensure surgeons are consistently
using the items they've requested. For example, our packs con-
tained 12 6-inch cotton-tip applicators to apply betadine, but we
only use around 6, so we removed 6. Similarly, we had 20 Weck-
Cel sponges in a pack, but we only need half as many. Small sav-
ings add up.
• Communication with surgeons. We pointed out to one physi-
cian that the blade she chose for her pack was much more
expensive than the blade in other surgeons' packs. As it turned
out, she wasn't aware of the cost difference and was fine switch-
ing to the less costly option. This meant a savings of $21 for each
of her cases. Considering the average collection for a cataract
surgery is less than $1,000, reducing the per-case cost by that
amount is significant.
— Sheila Boland, BSN, RN
• AN EYE FOR SAVINGS Even if you outsource cataracts, there are still ways
for you to economize.
Keep an Eye on Your
Outsourced Surgery Packs
