A recent study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (Fraunhofer) analyzed the environmental impacts of the medical remanufacturing of Electrophysiology Catheters. By using reprocessed catheters as an alternative to newly manufactured ones, the study revealed they reduced global warming impact by 50% and ozone depletion by 90%. The use of abiotic resources like water, sunlight and minerals, also decreased by 29%.
“The study recently conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute shows the global warming impact of “single-use” medical devices is cut in half when reprocessed devices are used instead,” says Daniel J. Vukelich, Esq., CAE, president of the Association of Medical Device Reprocessors. “What we’ve learned through this study of Electrophysiology Catheters is the road map hospitals and the healthcare industry at large is looking for to quickly and effectively reduce its environmental footprint.”
In 2019, AMDR data showed that hospitals and surgical centers saved about $545 million using reprocessed medical devices, a 15% increase over 2018 data. While the industry reaped significant savings in 2019, data also indicates nearly 15.3 million pounds of waste diverted from landfills, saving facilities an additional $22 million in waste disposal fees. . .
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