Waste in hospitals

Published

Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

I have a committee meeting on Monday and want to address some of the waste that goes on in the hospital. My prime example is the lab reports that print up "in progress," or have one lab result that isn't even abnormal. OR the 50 pages or so that print up every shift with the vitals on it, even though it is in the computor. I mean, the doctors can certainly look in the computor for the results, can't they? Any other ideas?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

We have a similar issue with the lab. They know when we have blood work ordered, but we have to print a sheet with the order on it and send it to the lab (even though they can read the order thru our computer system). Total waste of paper (6-10 sheets of paper at least per patient, depending on how much they have ordered). Also a waste of time- dealing with them saying "We never got the sheet, it needs to be reordered and redrawn because the blood is too old now" :rolleyes:

I can understand printing out the results however- what if the computer system goes down, and you need to know a critical lab value? Is there a way to combine all of the paperwork however?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We have a similar issue with the lab. They know when we have blood work ordered, but we have to print a sheet with the order on it and send it to the lab (even though they can read the order thru our computer system). Total waste of paper (6-10 sheets of paper at least per patient, depending on how much they have ordered). Also a waste of time- dealing with them saying "We never got the sheet, it needs to be reordered and redrawn because the blood is too old now" :rolleyes:

I can understand printing out the results however- what if the computer system goes down, and you need to know a critical lab value? Is there a way to combine all of the paperwork however?

Just curious as to why lab insists on these sheets being printed. They're in the computer already and I'm sure the specimens are labeled, what's the problem? Are they arguing that they must have the doctor's order to be able to do them?

I mean, the doctors can certainly look in the computor for the results, can't they?

Our VS are still charted at the bedside. The Docs here will copy lab results from the computer, unless they want to compare previous results. One problem with computer results is that you can't always print off JUST the info you need, you wind up with at least 2 pages you don't need.

My prime example is the lab reports that print up "in progress," or have one lab result that isn't even abnormal.

Our labs will print up only if we print them up. If I look in the computer and see "in progress" I won't be printing them.

In regards to hospital waste, I could go on and on about time wasted, which does cost the facility money, but I don't think that's what your looking for ShayRN.

Another area of waste that bothers me concerns supplies. For instance, we have no small tegaderms supplied separately. If I need a small tegaderm, I have to open up an IV starter kit. Basically an IV starter kit is wasted for one tegaderm. Same thing if I have a dressing change ordered with betadine, I'm only going to find betadine on the unit in our catheter kits, (pharmacy does not supply separately this nor does stores), again a catherer kit is wasted for one item not supplied. Any examples of things like this going on at your facility?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

our hospital has an in-house program that utilizes "wasted" supplies for mission medical trips, local charities, etc.

http://www.web.virginia.edu/outreach/cgi-bin/outreachvirginia/progdetails.pl?idnumber=390

while this does not completely address the wasted paper, it does address the tons of equipment that gets wasted when one opens single use packs for one part of an iv case, etc. our program has worked like a charm, and we've sent literally tons of good, clean equipment all around the world. otherwise, it would have ended up in a land-fill, and wasted millions of dollars. oh, get it all in writing - the amount of money you'd save the hospital. it gets a lot of attention that way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
our hospital has an in-house program that utilizes "wasted" supplies for mission medical trips, local charities, etc.

http://www.web.virginia.edu/outreach/cgi-bin/outreachvirginia/progdetails.pl?idnumber=390

while this does not completely address the wasted paper, it does address the tons of equipment that gets wasted when one opens single use packs for one part of an iv case, etc. our program has worked like a charm, and we've sent literally tons of good, clean equipment all around the world. otherwise, it would have ended up in a land-fill, and wasted millions of dollars. oh, get it all in writing - the amount of money you'd save the hospital. it gets a lot of attention that way.

what a great idea!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
our hospital has an in-house program that utilizes "wasted" supplies for mission medical trips, local charities, etc.

http://www.web.virginia.edu/outreach/cgi-bin/outreachvirginia/progdetails.pl?idnumber=390

while this does not completely address the wasted paper, it does address the tons of equipment that gets wasted when one opens single use packs for one part of an iv case, etc. our program has worked like a charm, and we've sent literally tons of good, clean equipment all around the world. otherwise, it would have ended up in a land-fill, and wasted millions of dollars. oh, get it all in writing - the amount of money you'd save the hospital. it gets a lot of attention that way.

the hospital i worked for does that too. all the disposable instruments not used in or go in the 3rd world box. when the box is full it is sent "somewhere". the or kits with gazillions of ace wrap that we never used, it goes in the box as well.

however, this may be a tax write off and a great social service but it still doesn't really save the money that should be saved by doing things differently. patients are still paying for those items sent to 3rd world countries.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

My personal favorite:rolleyes: is when we have to throw away supplies that were in patient's rooms on contact isolation. The supplies are still STERILE and in their individual SEALED packages, but because they were near MRSA we gotta chunk them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.
Just curious as to why lab insists on these sheets being printed. They're in the computer already and I'm sure the specimens are labeled, what's the problem? Are they arguing that they must have the doctor's order to be able to do them?

?

We wonder the same thing. It's something our management is butting head with the lab about. Not sure what their rationale is. If I can get a doctors order that was typed into the computer by a doc, why can't they?

I agree on the IV supply issue. If we only had tourniquets by themselves!!! I try to conserve what I can though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion