Sustainability has led to over $138,000 in savings for Ascent Healthcare Solutions partner hospitals in 2008, the company announced this week (pdf). Its partners have reduced local landfill waste by 4.3 million pounds (2,150 tons); hospitals report that they've reduced their supply costs by up to 27 percent as a result.
The savings come from re-manufacturing and re-processing medical devices. The hospitals can use the savings to increase the number of nurses, invest in the latest medical equipment, or otherwise improve care for patients. Ascent's clients include both small community-based facilities and major hospitals.
Ascent has seen re-manufacturing and re-processing programs increase by 20 percent from 2007 to 2008, and they expect that trend to continue in the coming year as more healthcare facilities jump on board. "Hospitals are already responding to economic conditions by pursuing Ascent’s programs more vigorously and relying on the results to enhance their survivability," commented Ascent CEO John Grotting.
Around 100 medical items, including scrubs, scissors, and surgical blades can be recycled through reprocessing programs, saving hospitals up to 60 percent.
