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?

Originally posted by brianpribis

[shows how old you are, EH? Books aren't the only source of learning, young Brian.]

Oh yea! Maybe it does and myabe it doesn't. Gosh, I think I will relax to some music, now where did I put that LP?

It's over there....next to your 8-track player............ ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

O.k., since we are talking about specimen cups:

I was a CNA in a nursing home years back and at about 7pm the people came around with snacks for the residents. I decided to have some fun. I went and got a specimen cup (new not reused!) and filled it with lemonade. I then went to the nursing station and told the nurses that I had just emptied so-n-sos foley bag and the urin didn't look right. They all looked at it. I then said it didn't smell right, and I uncapped it and smelled it (they smelled it too). I then said it didn't taste right either and drank it real quick like. He he he. First they screamed, looked green, and then, when they figured out what I had done, came after me. (Before one of you smarties say something about wasting a perfectly good specimen cup, it was being used for theraputic purposes, a good laugh during a hard night ;-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by MishlB

It's over there....next to your 8-track player............ ;)

Hey, those were like totally far out!:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by brianpribis

O.k., since we are talking about specimen cups:

I was a CNA in a nursing home years back and at about 7pm the people came around with snacks for the residents. I decided to have some fun. I went and got a specimen cup (new not reused!) and filled it with lemonade. I then went to the nursing station and told the nurses that I had just emptied so-n-sos foley bag and the urin didn't look right. They all looked at it. I then said it didn't smell right, and I uncapped it and smelled it (they smelled it too). I then said it didn't taste right either and drank it real quick like. He he he. First they screamed, looked green, and then, when they figured out what I had done, came after me. (Before one of you smarties say something about wasting a perfectly good specimen cup, it was being used for theraputic purposes, a good laugh during a hard night ;-)

You are SOOOOOOOO naughty!!!!!!!!!:devil:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

SmilingBluEyes, FYI, my patients don't get billed for anything. All the care is free. They do not have any money to pay for the items with. I either supply them or they go without.

TeresaRN2b, "why use sterile cups in the first place if you aren't concerned about having a sterile specimen." Good point.

The cups come with a lid and are made to hold the urine. I'm assuming they want the patients to bring in the first morning urine?? A Dixie cup isn't very good for transport.

Did you say this was an OB Doc? Perhaps the office needs to save money so they can afford the to deliver babies?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by flowerchild

Did you say this was an OB Doc? Perhaps the office needs to save money so they can afford the malpractice insurance to deliver babies? [/b]

VERY LIKELY since in most states, there is NO cap on the amt a lawsuit can recoup. An why so many OB's are leaving practice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by flowerchild

SmilingBluEyes, FYI, my patients don't get billed for anything. All the care is free. They do not have any money to pay for the items with. I either supply them or they go without.

and how do you recoup operating costs then? Just wondering since I am quite ignorant of how free and state-run clinics work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by MishlB

Keep those kids away from that dangerous toilet!!!!!!!Ewww gross...yucky poo poo. Gimme a break. Where do you keep anything with the kids around? IT'S A CUP!!!!!!!!!!!!WASH IT!!!!!!!!!

Dear, I CLEAN my toilets. My kids wash their hands. That was not my point. Why the HECK do I want to store a nasty thing like a speci cup? I DON'T!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by brianpribis

O.k., since we are talking about specimen cups:

I was a CNA in a nursing home years back and at about 7pm the people came around with snacks for the residents. I decided to have some fun. I went and got a specimen cup (new not reused!) and filled it with lemonade. I then went to the nursing station and told the nurses that I had just emptied so-n-sos foley bag and the urin didn't look right. They all looked at it. I then said it didn't smell right, and I uncapped it and smelled it (they smelled it too). I then said it didn't taste right either and drank it real quick like. He he he. First they screamed, looked green, and then, when they figured out what I had done, came after me. (Before one of you smarties say something about wasting a perfectly good specimen cup, it was being used for theraputic purposes, a good laugh during a hard night ;-)

:roll fuuunnnnyyyy!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

*considers her jelly/pickle jars in a whole new light. perhaps this would be better than bringing specie cups home, anyhow. lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know the NM of a hemodialysis unit, her unit is part of a private hospital. She told me that the filters on the dialysis machines in her unit were disposible, and thrown out after 1 use in her unit, but in many privately owned dialysis clinics these were cleaned and used again. I have never worked dialysis, I might be totaly off base, but she said it was a terrible practice and it sounds gross to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

SmilingBluEyes,

Federal and state funding through grants and special project money. I do bill MCD but the money goes into a fund that is for the program but not the individual clinics. We used the money last year from the MCD to pay nurses when the state pulled some of it's funding.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment