Help! OB Supplies Expensive!

I have been asked to cut 5% of OB supply expense. I am looking for input from all of you out there.

1) What do you use for perineal ice packs?

2) What is in your patient admission/comfort kits?

3) What is in your delivery packs?

4) Do all breastfeeding mothers receive a manual breast pump to take home?

Your input would be a big help.

Thank-you,

Layna

[mark_LD_RN]

1) gloves filled with ice or plastic ziplock bags.

2) admit kit has water pitcher,cup, klenex

3) delivery packs have as little as possible:)

4)no only ones that request a pump or that or having other diffuculty that pumps may help

[New CCU RN]

I worked OB as a student extern

1) Also the gloves filled with ice, you tie then wrap a baby wipe (dry around it and tie)

2) Admit kit.. hmm...nothing til they ask for it!

3) Delivery packs...do u mean for the baby? Small bag of diapers, baby wipes, little magazines that we get for free, bulb syringe, nail file, then they are d/c'd home wth a diaper bag that is filled with goodies

4) No manual breast pump unless they ask. They get charged if they do ask.

[RNonsense]

Originally posted by layna

I have been asked to cut 5% of OB supply expense. I am looking for input from all of you out there.

1) What do you use for perineal ice packs?

2) What is in your patient admission/comfort kits?

3) What is in your delivery packs?

4) Do all breastfeeding mothers receive a manual breast pump to take home?

Your input would be a big help.

Thank-you,

Layna

You give away manual breastpumps?! Very nice idea, but we don't do that here. I was given a list of prices and where to buy them...

[hollybear]

you'll give free breast pumps! wow we charge for ours and they get it only if they ask or doc orders it. we cut costs by cutting out gifts, we no longer give the steak dinner after or the nice embroidered robe:(

[SmilingBluEyes]

Wow--- I see these others have pointed out ways for you to save MUCH MORE THAN 5 percent. We are pretty much the same:

We make ice packs out of ice-filled gloves covered with aloe baby wipes (they get a box in their baby admit kits, which ARE chargeable). The aloe is soothing to the tender perineal area and smells so good. They love it and it costs us nothing but the glove and ice. We tell them they are replaceable anytime and they work better than those worthless chemical ice packs for the peri anyday.

We have NEVER *given* out breast pumps! First, we don't encourage their use in nursing moms unless baby is in special care and cannot eat or mom has VERY special issues with her anatomy. Usually, there is NO need for a pump in establishing nursing in the healthy couplet. Why do you GIVE them away? Sheesh these are BIG buck items where I work!!!! If they have to use a pump, I encourage them to rent pumps or purchase them. LLL has great resources on how to rent/buy the best pumps. We rarely have to issue breast pump kits where I work. Like I said only if there are special issues for mom or baby.

Our delivery packs are ALSO chargeable. We have peri pads, peri bottles, fishnet panties and (for vaginal deliveries, tucks pads and dermaplast spray). The babies' admit kids include diapers, wipes (those wonderful aloe ones Medline puts out) and alcohol wipes, combs and shampoo. The alcohol, naturally is NON-chargable. We just put 20 or 30 in the pack so they can do cord care.

Again, these admit packs are chargeable so we are not buying them, the patients (or insurace, whatever, are). We give EVERYONE an admit pack that includes a 1 liter standard pink water pitcher, emesis basin and the tub they come in (which usually serves as the emesis basin really). These are HOSPITAL-issued and the patients don't pay for these 3 things. EVERYTHING ELSE WE ISSUE IS CHARGEABLE AND therefore NOT a unit expense unless the nurse/tech misses the charge. That is tough to do these days, cause ours is a scan-out system so what you take, you scan to the patient. Less loss that way.

There I see 3 major areas you can cut costs. It's like the principals we use to conserve for our planet: Reduce, Reuse. Don't issue what is not needed (like breast pumps and those silly chemical perineal ice packs) and reduce the need to use other things wherever possible. REUSE those Ice pitchers and basins for baby baths (if they have not thrown up in em). It's about being creative and not wasting what we do have. It hits us all in the pocketbook eventually if we are not careful. Do this and you will realize a much greater savings than 5%, I suspect. Good luck.

[layna]

Thank-you all for your help. I really appreciate it. I am planning on asking the docs what they think should be in their delivery packs. There seems to be a lot of waste!

Layna

[OzNurse69]

Re delivery/admission packs - when I had both my boys (both private) I was given a list of things I needed to bring in (peri pads, cotton buds for umbi, breast pads etc). NOTHING was supplied by the hospital - I had to pay for it all myself.

And breast pumps?? How many of the mums you supply these to just put them at the back of the cupboard when they get home, to be brought out at the garage sale in 2 years time as "breast pump, never used"??

[SmilingBluEyes]

rofl OZ you are great. And you are right. So many things we can do to cut down waste.

[babynurselsa, RN]

Our PP nurses soak a pamper with water and put them in the freezer for peri packs.

Our pink ladies provide the gift baskets with convenience items like soap, toothbrushes and a couple of nice nlittle gifts for mom.

We do not give away the breast pumps they are charge items.

[RMH]

babynurselsa-

What a great Idea for an ice pack..I think I'll try that.

Layna-We also use gloves with ice, we did away with admit kits several years ago, but have stufff avail if the patients need anything(but don't charge-go figure). Our delivery packs, if you mean instrument packs, have 4x4s, laps, towels, and instruments. Then we add 2 syringes, 2 needles, bulb syringe and anything else is available but not opened. We don't have breast pumps to give out, but have electric pumps avail for loan if needed. All baby supplies are free, including diapers.

Our problem here is that we don't charge enough. All vag deliveries are charged the same. Whether they deliver in 1 hour or 2 days of pitocin, it is the same nursing charge. Doesn't make sense to me..

[SmilingBluEyes]

our charges are by the hour. So if a lady is on pit for 2 days, the charges follow that she was a "labor" patient (and the acuity is charged for) the entire duration by hour. A lady who precips is charged for the duration of her labor,also, maybe only 1 hour. It goes by acuity. I think that makes sense.