Out Sourcing instrument processing

[eshep]

Is anyone having an outside company process some or all of their instrumentation? The hospital I work for is looking at having a compnay process all of the laparoscopic instrumentation but they will still be on site just the employees will not be hospital employees. So I will have my employees and their employees trying to process instruments at the same time. Just looking for some insight as to how well or how poor this has worked for other hospitals.

[dongordon]

Earl,

We currently have a "Request for Proposal (RFP)" going out on this same outsourcing. This is about the only outsourcing I am in favor of because of the complexity of the instruments and the training and practice needed to properly process this specific type instrumentation.

The companies involved usually provide a "soup to nuts" program and take on all responsibility for repairs and processing of lapryscopic/endoscope instrumentation within the facility.

The cost analysis that I have viewed from the various companies indicates that a hospital will save money using this outsource procedure or at least "break even."

Please let me know how this is working out for you.

Don

[lariles]

We are currently looking at this proceedure also. I currently have a dedicated staff member to accomplish this task and do it proficiently. I have a very good instrument repair group which have saved me alot to money through cost effective maintenence and care. I have seen preliminary numbers and fell like it will not be cost effective in our institution. The extra expense of having a skilled CST (cert surgical tech) working for me is the difference. :)

[C.Wright]

I am a SPD manager but in the past I worked for a company that processed all of the laparoscopic instrumentation for an SPD. Seeing this situation from both sides. I would say it is a good idea if your hospital pay rates are to low for trained staff. (The rates at my hospital are very low) It really saves you a lot of problems.

[eshep]

Some of the concerns I have is the space I have in decontam is not big enough for two people to be processing instruments and the same time, also if they are looking at this outside person just to work during the day shift hours and my staff to handle anything after hours then what is the point of outsourcing this function.