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M A Y 2 0 1 5 | O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T
dure packs. Custom packs are convenient for staff, saving them time
when they're opening cases. However, custom packs can cost more
than standard issue packs.
In addition, if a single component of your custom pack is on backo-
rder, production of the entire collection of supplies can be derailed.
Making changes to custom packs can also be tricky and expensive,
especially if your volume is low and your contract commits you to
using all of the packs on hand before change requests are fulfilled. On
the other hand, pre-source packs are more varied in their offerings
than they used to be and are usually more readily available, without
the lag in production associated with custom packs. Choosing a more
basic pack lets you add custom components without affecting produc-
tion and delivery.
Reach out to surgeons. Variances in implant costs are sometimes
inevitable due to the nature of the procedure. However, some-
times just simple awareness of the costs of materials and implants can
be the key to limited per-case expenses.
I had a group of gynecologists that performed a lot of "clean" proce-
dures. Some of their preference cards called for a full GYN pack,
including a back table cover, leggings and pouch drape. Other cards
for the same procedure called for a pack of towels and a pair of
gloves. Bringing the 2 costs directly to the physician group let them
discuss appropriate protocols for these specific procedures. During
the face-to-face review of supply usage, we discovered one physician
drove the use of packs because of an unanticipated difficult case
many years earlier. He had added requests for those additional and
often unneeded supplies based on that case, and hadn't removed them
from his preference cards since. The discussion among the physi-
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