DID YOU KNOW Each year in the United States, over 2,000 tons or $200 million worth of unused medical supplies that are rare and valuable in some other parts of the world are disposed of. Supplies that could benefit millions of people all around the world are simply tossed into the garbage because of the expiration dates. CHICAGO - In an effort to "go green," eco-conscious medical students and hospital staff at Rush University Medical Center have started Rush Remedy, a medical supply recovery and recycling program that collects unused medical supplies and equipment and provides them to overseas hospitals and clinics-in-need. To date, the volunteers of this grassroots movement, which started in January 2008, have collected and donated over 12,000 pounds (about 5443.1 kg) of unused medical supplies such as surgical packs, surgical gloves, gauze, bandages, sutures, and catheters to much need patients and clinics around the world. But the question is why are these medical supplies being thrown away?

According to Dr. David Ansell, "This waste represents much more than an unnecessary burden to landfills, or a financial loss incurred by hospitals, the chief medical officer and faculty adviser for Rush Remedy lamented "When viewed in contrast to the severe shortages of medical and surgical supplies for hospitals in developing nations, this excess illustrates the need for a nation-wide system of material recovery and reuse." (Fierce Healthcare). However, when it comes to wasteful dumping of medications and supplies, animal healthcare providers are just as guilty. Each year millions of unused or expired medication are dumped, medication that could be passed down to animal shelters and rehab animals' facilities.

One such company that is helping to fight this prodigal waste is GB Tech USA. As a family-owned medical supply facility based in Florida, USA. The company’s goal is focused on the repurposing of excess medical supplies for laboratories, universities, clinics, vets and many other types of health care providers within the USA and developing countries around the world. According to the National Institution of Health office of Laboratory Animal Welfare there is a guideline for the select use of expired medical products.

NIH stated if Animal Care and Use Committees are satisfied that the expired medical products’ use will not negatively impact animal welfare or compromise the validity of the patients. NIH pointed out that there are two types of medications, Non-Survival Procedures and Survival Procedures items that are expired or past the sterilization “use by” date that can be used.

For Non-Survival Procedures If the packaging has not been opened the following can be used with ACUC approval:

• Suture materials
• Fluids (e.g.., saline, Lactated Ringers)
• Supplies (e.g.., gauze, needles, butterfly catheters, etc.), implantable materials or devices (e.g.., cardiac catheters, etc.)
• Surgical instruments

Medications at the room level, expired products must be labeled as expired and maintained separately from non-expired products. For Survival Procedures the following can be used with ACUC approval:

• Sterilized implantable materials and devices

The Association of Medical Device Preprocessors (AMDR) represents the global interests of regulated reprocessing companies. They collect annual member data to show waste diversion and savings to hospitals as a direct result of the work of their members.

AMDR reports that over 8,000 hospitals use regulated, reprocessed single-use medical devices, also minimizing astronomical waste hauling fees. In fact, 100% of U.S. News & World Report top hospitals used reprocessed single-use medical devices in 2019. Reprocessing companies collect, sort, clean, disinfect, test, sterilize, and return millions of devices to thousands of hospitals, for a cost savings of 30 to 40% when compared to an investment in new devices.

The reprocessed equipment is just as safe and effective as original items and allows hospitals more bandwidth to control their supply chain and prepare for future threats. According to AMDR, over 15 million pounds (about 6803880 kg) of medical waste were diverted from landfills in 2019 thanks to the use of reprocessed single-use medical devices.

So, companies such as GB Tech USA goal is focused on recycling unused medical supplies in Miami for laboratories, universities, clinics, vets and many other types of health care providers within the USA and developing countries around the world recycling unused medical supplies in Miami with the best quality, experience, security, and trust.

GB Tech USA has earned a well-deserved reputation of excellence in providing smart, sensible, and cost-effective solutions to the veterinarians field. The company’s goal is focused on the repurposing of excess medical supplies for laboratories, universities, clinics, vets and many other types of health care providers within the USA and developing countries around the world.

If you have questions about recycling unused medical supplies in Miami Florida, USA. Call GB Tech USA on 772- 318 – 6829.