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Dr. Voeller agrees. "We all want to save money, and I think that's the
main advantage of reposables," he says. "As long as the instrument
does what I need it to do, I'm all for it. If it doesn't jeopardize the
patient or the procedure, most surgeons are fine with using repos-
ables."
Reposables do in fact offer significant cost-saving opportunities.
According to Ms. Dennis, disposable instruments run between $300
and $400 (depending on the manufacturer and brand), reposables cost
$400 to $500 and the more durable reusables range from $900 to
$1,500. "Considering the normal limited-life cycle of reposables is
about 10 uses, purchasing them instead of disposables can potentially
save you $4,000," says Ms. Dennis.
The diamond paracentesis and trapezoid incision blades Dr. Ruckman
used cost $2,400 and $2,800, respectively, with estimated annual repair
costs of $800 to $1,000. Factoring purchase and upkeep expenses into per-
case expenses, Dr. Ruckman estimates it costs about $3 to use diamond
knives if all goes well, but that price could jump significantly if damage to
the delicate blades necessitates costly repairs.
The reposable supplies he uses — phaco tip, infusion sleeve and
tubing set — cost approximately $14 per case, which Dr. Ruckman
says compares favorably with what he'd pay for disposable versions.
Additionally, the reposable metal blades he uses cost about $4.50 per
case. It's a little more than the diamond blades, but Dr. Ruckman
doesn't have to worry about annual maintenance costs.
Waste not
Ms. Dennis says reposables are greener options — you dispose of
fewer items compared with single-use supplies and devices — that
also reduce costs related to inventory management and delivery
expenses, especially for larger health systems.
M A T E R I A L S M A N A G E M E N T
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