The financial and environmental impact of unopened medical supplies discarded in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND

Inefficient supply chain management within the US healthcare industry results in significant financial and environmental impact. Unopened medical supplies may routinely be discarded in the Emergency Department (ED), contributing as a source of unnecessary medical waste.

OBJECTIVES

Quantify the financial and environmental impact of unopened medical supplies that are routinely discarded in two EDs.

METHODS

The study utilized a waste audit of collection bins targeting unopened medical supplies that would have otherwise been discarded. Associated financial cost was calculated using data from the purchasing department and from an online search. End-of-life (EOL) environmental impact was calculated using the M+ Wastecare calculator. A lifecycle analysis was performed on a supplier-packaged intubation kit, which the study identified as a significant source of waste.

RESULTS

High volumes of unused, unopened supplies (143.48 kg) were collected during the study period with a yearly extrapolated value of 1337 kg. Purchasing costs over 44 days at Hospital A and 37 days at Hospital B for these items amounted to $16,159.71 across both sites with a yearly extrapolated value of $150,631.73. Yearly extrapolated EOL impact yielded 5.79 tons per year of CO2eq. Components from supplier-packaged intubation kits were found to contribute to 45.2% of collected items at one site which purchased them. Lifecycle analysis of an intubation kit yields 23.6 kg of CO2eq.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that the disposal of unopened medical supplies contributes a significant source of financial and environmental waste in the ED setting. The results continue to support the trend of procedure kits generating significant environmental and financial waste.