Reusing medical supplies

Nurses General Nursing

Published

What do you think of doctor's offices that reuse medical supplies? I am not talking about things that are sterilized and standard to be reused. Here are two examples.

One, I worked as a CMA for a family practice doctor and he had us reuse the ear pieces for the otoscopes (not sure of the right word for what I am looking for). He would have us clean them with alcohol and reuse them. Personally I thought that was really cheap and not very sanitary.

Then second example, my OBs office sent me home the first visit with a sterile urine cup. Well I bring it in and they rinse it out and wipe it dry with a paper towel and hand it back to me for next visit. I also found that very cheap and unsanitary. I mean if they are that low on money buy the dixie cups instead of using sterile cups and have the patients give urine in the office (which all my previous doctors have done). Needless to say I didn't come back with the cup for the next visit.

Anyhow, wondering what your thoughts are on this. How common is this? Am I wrong to think this is really unsanitary?

I dont know , maybe I'm a germaphobe but that bothers me too ......

that and the fact that if I went to the drs the least they could do would be to give me a new urine bottle to pee in each time , come on , thats small potatoes...

gives a whole new meaning to the term , pot to piss in doesnt it?

I find that more cheapass than anything, I'm prudent and what have you but Come on already..

Specializes in ER.

I think its probably safe but very yucky. I would tell them a used urine cup was just too gross to carry around. Don't have a problem with washing ear speculums.

Specializes in CVOR,CNOR,NEURO,TRAUMA,TRANSPLANTS.

In third world contries we reuse as much as possible because we may or may not be able to get the product again for months or even a yr at a time. But Im sure where you are located is far from third world. Small items that are easily cleaned and sterilized and do not enter into the cavitys of a body should be fine for recleaning and using, if it helps on overhead costs, then do it. Items that are used on the same patient I can see where that is cost effective as well is they are just doing a standard base test, and not in need of strict sterility.

There are many articles that are used over and over on many patients in the hospital the largest of the reused areas are Laundry and Surgical pans. Each are cleaned and repackaged for the next patient.

Zoe

Specializes in MS Home Health.

I am with you. I would not like those practices.

renerian

I wonder if he washed his hands between doing vag checks....or if he just wiped them on a towel to save water.....:)

Kristy

ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh kristy

vomitus ensuitus

lordy

yeah good point though, where does the cost saving end?

I shudder to think about it

I'm about to buy medical supplies wholesale and bring them to the dr when I go ........ here ya go buddy, I know youre a chepass so I splurged for myself, gloves - check, urine bottles - check, tongue depressors (or popsicle sticks whichever) - check

saving costs is one thing ,and I totally get the third world country thing.. obviously

but if my peeing in the same cup over and over again pays for my dr's cheesey "#1doc" license plates then forget it , new bottles for all! put it on my tab!

Specializes in Critical Care.

Some patients undergoing endoscopic procedures contacted a deadly virus, there have been deaths and after a through investigation it was found that the sanitizer was not effective in killing that bug, I forgot which one it was, but can you imagine, I hope the scopes that they use on the rectum were not the same ones used down the throat, Gross!!! I know in many hospitals they "recycle" equipment such as SCD's, well if they are soiled I throw them out, I sure would not want someone elses cooties on me!

there was a story here some time ago, I cant remember the details but it invovled something similar to what youre talking about badbird, I think it was in Quebec, and they sent out letters to patients that may have been exposed to something due to improperly santized instruments......

scary

I dont think I can read anymore of this thread

that thing about the scopes, hubboy .......

Specializes in med/surg, cardiac/telemetry, hospice.

Back in the Day, people would bring their urine for dipstick to the doc's in a pickle jar from home....washed and dried, of course. Same results.

Originally posted by BadBird

Some patients undergoing endoscopic procedures contacted a deadly virus, there have been deaths and after a through investigation it was found that the sanitizer was not effective in killing that bug, I forgot which one it was, but can you imagine, I hope the scopes that they use on the rectum were not the same ones used down the throat, Gross!!! I know in many hospitals they "recycle" equipment such as SCD's, well if they are soiled I throw them out, I sure would not want someone elses cooties on me!

Yes, cooties can be very dangerous.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

how does one sterilize an ear piece or specimen cup? different than instruments that go into autoclave, come on we can see that. and the US is NOT a 3rd world country, we have the resources, and cut costs in many of the wrong places. (such as nursing as well.) And "back in the day", we were not dealing w/superbugs resistant to all but one or two antibiotics, or HIV and strains of Hepatitis that were then-unknown, were we? JMO. Flame at will.

I don't see this as a big problem. Otoscope covers can be reused if properly cleaned in antiseptic solution. If the urine cup is being used by the same person to check values in the urine with a dip stick and not for U/A C+S then what's the problem? I would never use a used cup for a sterile or clean catch urine specimen that is going to the lab. I remember reusing thermometers, the glass ones, after dipping them in alcohol. I'm really glad we don't do that anymore. Many moons ago when I was prego with my first, I brought my a.m. urine into the clinic in a old pickle jar with a lid that I had washed myself, took it home and cleaned it again and again. I also had to provide my own squirt bottle for cleansing after the delivery, it was a cleaned out dish soap bottle. I'm not that old, not even 40 yet. I used a midwife and not a Doc, so all my care was provided by a nurse. Granted, things have improved and things always change, but reusing certain items is OK as long as the item does not cross contaminate. Sounds like your OB has been around for awhile, I'd rather have a OB Doc that has the experience to know what is OK and what is not and have the experience of many deliveries. I wouldn't change Docs just b/c he gave you your urine cup back for reuse. It's your cup!

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