M A Y 2 0 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 5 1
T
he biggest roadblock I face when approaching adminis-
trators of surgery centers about prefilled syringes is the
price point compared to vials. I get it. My clients don't
know what goes on behind the scenes at a 503B com-
pounding facility that leads to the upcharge. It's unlikely
they're going to take a day out of their busy schedules to go see how
it's all done. But when you compare the cost between two items that
serve the same purpose, do you only compare the upfront costs? Of
course not. Deciding to make the switch from vials to prefilled
syringes is no different.
The price of prefilled syringes is just one variable that should go into
your calculation. I tell my clients to first look at all the drugs they buy
as single-use vials or ampules and think about what goes into their
Calculating the Cost of Prefilled Syringes
Go drug by drug to see if it's time to make the switch.
John Karwoski, RPh, MBA | Wenonah, N.J.
•
PRICE OF PREFILLED
You'll
almost always
pay more for premixed, prelabeled syringes,
but you'll waste less medication — and you'll
spend
less time drawing it up and labeling it.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR