you can stack them in storage," says Ms. Chobin.
4. Environmental friendliness
While blue wrap can be recycled or upcycled (see "Going Green for
the Greater Good" on page 22) there are plenty of facilities that toss
blue wrap in the trash, adding to the staggering amount of OR waste
that's sent to landfills each year. Rigid containers, on the other hand,
are an environmentally superior option. That's something that facili-
ties should keep in mind when deciding between wrap and contain-
ers. "Under AORN's packaging guidelines, if all else is equal among
the options you have at your disposal, you should consider the envi-
ronmental impact," says Ms. Klacik.
5. Cost effectiveness
Rigid containers require a significant initial investment, with a single
container costing $300 to $500. You have to consider the long game,
however. "The lifespan of these containers can be 15 years or more,"
says Ms. Chobin. If it costs $4 every time you wrap an instrument tray
M A R C H 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 6 7
things in terms of customizing interior components to match your
instrumentation needs, but you must spell out exactly what you
need. "Be proactive and specific," says Ms. Chobin. "Say, 'I have
this specialized instrument set, and I want to configure the con-
tainer so every piece of the set has a secure place inside.' You
want a guarantee that nothing will get damaged in transport."
Finally, don't hesitate to ask potential vendors about creative
financing options they can offer if you can't cover the upfront
costs. Chances are, most companies will be more than willing to
work with you to find a price that works.
— Jared Bilski
