1980-1990
Hospitals establish unregulated in-house reprocessing programs
In the 1980s, medical device companies began offering devices labelled as “single-use” as well as “reusable”. Medical devices with the single-use label began to produce large amounts of waste, and, by the late 1980s many hospitals had established in-house reprocessing programs.1
Today, hospitals often send their devices to a third-party reprocessor. Working with a third-party reprocessor reduces acquisition cost and ensures that devices are regulated by the FDA. FDA regulation and oversight helps to ensure that reprocessed devices are substantially equivalent to new products.
Doing what’s right for the environment should be right for your hospital, too. From the moment a device is collected at your hospital to the moment it is sold back– we are here for you. Our supply chain expertise, engaged field service team, and quality management system make this seamless care possible.
Follow the diagram to learn how we provide value in every step of the cycle.
Our team is ready to help – from compression sleeves to cannulas, we are here to help you go green.
In 2018, Sustainable Technologies joined the Association of Medical Device Reprocessors (AMDR). As the trade association for third-party reprocessors, AMDR focuses on providing value to the healthcare sector through reprocessing.
1 http://www.premiersafetyinstitute.org/safety-topics-az/reprocessing-single-use-devices/reprocessing-single-use-devices/
2 Statement of Daniel Schultz, MD, Director CDRH, before the Committee on Government Reform, September 26, 2006" in CDRH Home Page [online] (Washington, DC: FDA, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, 2006 [cited 22 March 2007]); available from Internet: http://amdr.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/FDAShultzStatement.pdf.
3 United States, Government Accountability Office. (2008). Reprocessed single-use medical devices: FDA oversight has increased, and available information does not indicate that use presents an elevated health risk: Report to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office.