Abstract
Purpose :
In the current tough economic climate, it is important to provide quality care with limited resources. Our department in a tertiary center in United Kingdom, currently utilizes non-disposable instruments for oculoplastics minor operations and these instruments are sterilized off-site. A snapshot audit of the instruments revealed issues such as missing and damaged instruments. Disposables surgical instruments are increasingly being used for their reliability and prevention of cross-infection. We performed a cost-analysis study to determine the most cost-effective alternative of instruments for oculoplastics minor operations in our department.
Methods :
A cost analysis was performed comparing non-disposable versus disposable instruments over a 10-year period. The initial purchase cost of chalazion sets, lid surgery sets and other instruments; sterilization cost; repair cost and replacement cost were included for non-disposable instruments cost calculcation. Quoted purchase price of similar sets of instruments and estimated disposal cost were included for disposable instruments cost calculation.
Results :
The total cost of non-disposable instruments over 10 years was £174,044 (equivalent to US$ 223,181). The estimated cost of disposable instruments was £448,267 (equivalent to US$ 574,823). Potentially, an additional £274,223 (equivalent to US$ 351,642) would be spent over 10 years if disposables were used instead of non-disposables in our department.
Conclusions :
Non-disposable instruments are more cost-effective than disposable instruments for oculoplastics minor operations in our department. Reusing non-disposable instruments is better for minimizing the carbon footprint of the NHS (National Health Service). Although there have been no reports of adverse outcomes or patient dissatisfaction related to defective non-disposable instruments, stricter sterilization, inspection, repair and replacement processes should be trialed to ensure instrument reliability and good delivery of care.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.