Remanufacturing Medical Devices Saves Hospitals $82M

September 3, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Reprocessing and remanufacturing programs from Ascent Healthcare Solutions has saved its hospital partners more than $82 million in supply chain costs during the first half of 2009. The provider of healthcare resource sustainability services said this represents a 25 percent increase in savings over the first six months in 2008. In other news, healthcare providers are also seeking sustainability best practices through Practice Greenhealth.

In addition to cost savings, the reprocessing and remanufacturing programs have enabled hospitals to divert more than 2.5 million pounds (1,296 tons) of waste from local landfills during the first half of 2009, according to Ascent Healthcare.

Ascent’s program incorporates an environmentally conscious approach to handling and disposing of devices that cannot be reprocessed or remanufactured by reducing the devices to their component parts and properly recycling the materials, said the company.

Other hospitals and healthcare facilities are joining the Practice Greenhealth organization to help them implement and expand their eco-friendly and sustainable practices. As an example, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), which is comprised of 163 hospitals and 112 outpatient centers in 20 states and England, has joined Practice Greenhealth to help the organization become a leader in environmental practices among healthcare companies, according to HCA.

Each HCA hospital will appoint a sustainability coordinator to lead their sustainability efforts. As members of Practice Greenhealth, each HCA hospital will have access to its tools, resources and expertise.

With the addition of HCA, Practice Greenhealth membership now exceeds 1,000 organizations. Members include individual hospitals, healthcare systems, businesses in the healthcare community and other stakeholders engaged in the greening of healthcare.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader