needed for its most common procedures. The center orders the packs
depending on its caseload, and the packs are delivered at the start of
each week. If an extra is needed mid-week, they can have them
shipped overnight. "We do not have a lot of space for all of the sup-
plies, and this is cost-efficient," says Ms. Radke "When we put the bid
out for the packs, we priced what it would cost us to have the sepa-
rate items, and then worked with suppliers to get what we needed at a
lower price-per-case."
Respondents say they love the convenience of the kits. "Faster set-
up, less waste, standardization for staff, cost containment, decreased
inventory and easier control of outdates," are some of the benefits
Annette Scagerko, RN, BSN, CNOR, OR program manager of the
Westerville (Ohio) Surgery Center lists about her center's custom
packs.
Others, though, say that they found just-in-time kits to be "not very
reliable and costly." "The ordering process is not ideal," says one man-
ager. "There are frequent back orders."
• OR storage cabinets. Having a centralized supply area outside of the
OR is essential. Only 15% say they keep all of their supplies and instru-
ments in the OR themselves, while 63% say they keep few or no sup-
plies in the OR. A lack of space in the OR and the risk of supplying
several rooms with duplicate materials is the driving factor behind
this decision, say several managers.
Elkart (Ind.) General Hospital, profiled in the story to the left, keeps
some extra supplies in the ORs behind closed-door cabinets. And
some note that their smaller specialty centers make storing supplies
in the OR to be the most efficient option. "We're an ophthalmic sur-
gery center with 1 OR," says Katie Guglietta, RN, clinical director for
Snowden River Surgery Center in Ellicott City, Md., "so it's very easy
to maintain supplies in the OR."
OSM
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