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N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
Vendors have options for you when it comes to how you purchase
these systems. Many will let you pay just a few dollars more per case
in addition to the cost of the manifolds until the full price is reached.
Others let you have the unit for free, but require that you pay higher
costs for manifolds and filters. If we choose to go with the closed sys-
tem, we're planning on taking advantage of one of these options to pay
for the machine over time, rather than all at once. Keep in mind that
these systems often make room turnover times faster, which can
recoup costs. When looking into closed systems, keep in mind the
amount of fluid you need to dispose of on average. For my facility,
we're planning on using a closed system for our fluid-heavy proce-
dures, like arthroscopies, cystoscopies and trauma cases, to ease the
burden on staff and reduce red-bag waste costs.
Other factors
While costs to purchase the equipment and staff safety are the big things
to consider when looking at new fluid management systems, other fac-
tors can affect your decision. In my experience, staff notices right away
any space and noise issues, and is the first to bring up any problems. Talk
to your team members ahead of time to gather their input on what works
best for them and take that into consideration. Plus, you'll have to train
them on the new system, which can factor into total costs. Finally, some
of the closed systems also can function as smoke evacuators, so you may
be saving money on other equipment. Take a look at all of your options,
your caseload and your budget before deciding, and try your options to
see what works best for your facility. OSM
Ms. Wilson (
wilsonm@wvuhea lthcare.com
) is a clinical nurse
preceptor/educator at West Virginia University Hospitals in Morgantown,
W.Va.
W A S T E D I S P O S A L
