Spring 2024 Newsletter

NEWS FROM DAN

Greetings to our growing base of policymakers, researchers, purchasers, and reprocessing advocates. As we welcome spring, we look back on another productive quarter – one highlighted by progress with American and European regulators, continued innovation and success for our member companies, and our own advances as representatives of the medical device reprocessing industry. I welcome you all to join me in this breakdown of the most noteworthy highlights from the last quarter.

Regulators Are Asking the Right Questions

When healthcare stakeholders discuss barriers to the use of reprocessed devices, two such barriers stand out as finally being addressed by regulatory agencies.

First is the anticompetitive business practices of some device manufacturers, who use various tactics – including chipping and restrictive contracts – to inhibit the hospitals they contract with from purchasing reprocessed devices. Such unfair practices are something that I have been vocal about for a long time. But now, the United States government has taken an interest as well: as whistleblowers accuse manufacturers of “putting profits over patients,” U.S. government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, have opened a public portal inviting stakeholders to report anticompetitive behaviors in the healthcare sector.

Secondly, uneven and contradictory laws between countries makes reprocessing a complicated and obtuse affair for both reprocessing firms and health systems alike. I raised this issue during my interview with the European Commission for their report on the implementation of EU reprocessing regulations. Fortunately, some European regulators are taking this to heart as well: France, one of the largest economies to still prohibit reprocessing, is moving ahead with a pilot project to assess the viability of reprocessing in their country – heeding the calls of French physicians who have advocated for the permission of regulated reprocessing in France and Europe as a whole.

AMDR Member Companies: Cut From a Different Cloth

These transatlantic regulatory successes are made possible by the professionalism of AMDR’s member companies.

Indeed, Stryker Sustainability Solutions and Cardinal Health’s Sustainable Technologies – having released their own research and report, respectively, demonstrating the environmental and economic benefits of their reprocessing programs – were recognized for their for their collective action to reduce carbon emissions in medtech. British and French clinicians commended Vanguard’s novel approach to reprocessing (please email me for an English translation of the French article). Innovative Health’s Lars Thording published a series of articles advising health systems on how to maximize transparency, profitability, and safety in reprocessing programs.

AMDR Carbon Calculator Helps Hospitals Help the Planet

All of our member companies are leaders in thought and action in the field of sustainable healthcare, and I could not be more proud to represent their interests. So with the help of our Research Consultant Dr. Cassandra Thiel, we celebrated Earth Day by releasing a powerful tool: a free carbon emissions calculator to help health systems understand the environmental impact they can achieve by purchasing reprocessed devices from AMDR member companies.

This calculator, leveraging data from a wide range of life cycle assessments, represents the cutting edge of carbon accounting methods applied explicitly to reprocessing. Now, any time hospital procurement departments decide which products to buy, they will have a much clearer and stronger idea of why working with our members is the right thing to do – not just for their bottom line, but for the planet as well.

Beyond this, AMDR continues to be a resource for researchers more generally. A project affiliated with New York University and the Commonwealth Fund cited AMDR and member data when endorsing reprocessing. Meanwhile, a UK government-funded study explicitly commended AMDR as an example of trade associations advancing sustainability in healthcare.

Reprocessing has been my passion for more than 20 years. To see this recognition of our and our members’ efforts, and to see positive movement on the part of regulators, validates that our approach is working. I look forward to engaging with you over the next quarter.

Best Wishes,

Dan Vukelich, Esq., CAE
President & CEO
Association of Medical Device Reprocessors
www.amdr.org 

Healthcare Purchasing News: Reprocessing Single-Use Devices Helps Orgs Achieve Cost Savings, Sustainability
April 23, 2024
Reprocessing single-use medical devices is gaining attention as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable practice within healthcare settings, amid rising operational costs and environmental concerns. Experts Maureen Spencer and Lars Thording discuss the regulatory, economic, and practical aspects of reusing such devices, which have traditionally been labeled as disposable. While reprocessing can help reduce costs and the environmental footprint of healthcare facilities, challenges persist in terms of regulatory compliance, safety, and acceptance within the medical community. The discussion highlights the balance between cost savings and environmental benefits, against the backdrop of strict adherence to safety standards and the need for transparency in purchasing decisions to support sustainable practices.

Association of Medical Device Reprocessors: Free CO2 Calculator to Help Hospital Sustainability Managers Track and Reduce Stubborn Supply Chain Emissions by Using Regulated, Reprocessed Single-Use Medical Devices from AMDR Members
April 22, 2024
With the health sector accounting nearly 5% of global emissions, hospitals around the world have stepped up to heal the planet as well as their patients. In celebration of Earth Day, AMDR has announced the launch of a free tool that aims to make this task a little easier: an innovative CO2 calculator designed to aid hospitals in tracking emissions reductions achieved through the use of reprocessed single-use medical devices (SUDs) from AMDR members. With nearly 10,000 hospitals, including major U.S. health systems and international institutions, embracing reprocessed SUDs, the calculator offers a practical tool for sustainability managers to quantify emissions savings. Developed with the expertise of noted sustainability researcher Cassandra Thiel, PhD, the calculator enables users to input the quantity of reprocessed devices used, with results reflecting average CO2 reductions derived from peer-reviewed studies. AMDR is so proud to have developed this tool – please click here to try it out yourself!

CleanMed Europe: CleanMed Europe 2024 Is Approaching
April 21, 2024
In less than two months, CleanMed Europe 2024 – Europe’s leading conference on sustainable healthcare – will bring together healthcare leaders and champions of sustainability to share ideas, innovations, challenges, and solutions for sustainability in European healthcare. Click here to register for this online event!

Fierce Healthcare: Federal agencies open online portal for reporting anticompetitive practices in healthcare
April 18, 2024
Federal agencies want to hear from the public about monopolistic and anticompetitive behavior within the healthcare industry. Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled HealthyCompetition.gov, an online portal where anyone can submit a healthcare competition complaint for potential investigation. These submissions, the agencies said, can help the agencies ensure healthcare organizations provide quality care and pay their employees a fair wage. “All too often, we hear how unfair methods of competition and monopolistic practices may be depriving Americans of access to affordable, high-quality healthcare,” FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a release. “This joint initiative between, FTC, DOJ and HHS will provide a crucial channel for the agencies to hear from the public, bolstering our work to check illegal business practices that harm consumers and workers alike.”

Health Care Without Harm: Training | Reprocessing of single-use medical devices
April 15, 2024
At a training hosted by Health Care Without Harm, a German cardiologist, Dr. Andrea Brinker-Paschke, discusses the challenges and opportunities of reprocessing medical devices, particularly in the field of electrophysiology. Dr. Brinker-Paschke highlighted that while sustainability is highly valued in Germany, it remains largely unaddressed in hospitals, particularly in specialized medical areas. She emphasized the environmental impact and the high costs associated with single-use medical devices such as catheters, which are prevalent due to industry norms that discourage reusability. The discussion also touched on the regulatory landscape across Europe, where reprocessing practices vary significantly by country. Dr. Brinker-Paschke advocated for broader adoption of reprocessing to reduce waste and promote sustainability in healthcare, stressing that even in regions where reprocessing is currently limited or non-existent, policies and practices can evolve to support these efforts.

GlobalData: 85% of global citizens call for single-use plastics ban
April 11, 2024
A survey commissioned by WWF and the Plastic Free Foundation reveals that an overwhelming 85% of global respondents advocate for banning single-use plastics as part of an emerging global plastic pollution treaty. The survey, which polled over 24,000 individuals across 32 countries, underscores public support for significant legislative changes in the fight against plastic pollution. These findings emerge as international negotiators prepare for the fourth session of the Global Plastics Treaty talks in Ottawa, Canada. Alongside the ban on single-use plastics, respondents also strongly favor prohibiting harmful chemicals in plastics and non-recyclable plastic products and packaging. Moreover, there is a robust call for systemic changes to the current plastics system, including mandates for manufacturers to develop reuse and refill systems, which garnered 87% support. As these critical negotiations approach, WWF International’s global plastics lead, Eirik Lindebjerg, emphasizes the disconnect between the high public awareness and concern about plastic pollution and the limited public involvement in treaty negotiations.

Waste Manager Medicine: Processing of medical devices
April 2, 2024
Implants, pacemakers, medical devices or medical instruments – medical products are diverse and are used every day for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. One of the most important factors when dealing with medical devices is patient safety. If instruments or other products are originally packaged, the responsibility lies with the manufacturer. However, if the medical devices are to be reused, the Medical Device Operator Ordinance requires their proper processing. The technical and functional safety of the used product is to be restored using various procedures.

Healthcare Purchasing News: The Collective Healthcare Action to Reduce MedTech Emissions Launches
April 9, 2024
According to an April 9 press release, the Collective Healthcare Action to Reduce MedTech Emissions (CHARME) collaborative has launched. The group’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. medical device and equipment supply chain. The press release says that “The MedTech (medical device, equipment, service, and distribution) supply chain accounts for 7% of U.S. health care greenhouse gas emissions. The Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council is leading this effort in partnership with Kaiser Permanente and Vizient.” Further, “CHARME fills a critical gap in existing decarbonization initiatives and has the potential to improve emission reductions in activities such as manufacturing and transportation practices across the MedTech supply chain. A total of 13 organizations comprising of national and global health systems, medical device and equipment suppliers, distributors, group purchasing organizations, and other key industry stakeholders have expressed their intent to participate, including Advocate Health; Becton, Dickinson and Company; Cardinal Health; Cencora; Health Care Without Harm; Northwell Health; and Stryker, and more organizations are joining daily.”

Kestrel Consultancy Group: 2024 Medtech Sustainability Forum
April 2, 2024
The Medtech Sustainability Forum, to be held in Boston, Massachusetts on May 16, 2024, aims to spotlight and address the imperative for sustainable practices within the medical technology sector. This interactive event seeks to dissect global sustainability efforts, pinpoint barriers to green practices among medical device manufacturers, and highlight the integration of sustainability into corporate strategy as a pathway for innovation and revenue generation. Through a blend of keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking, the forum will showcase successful case studies, connect attendees with medtech partners offering scalable solutions, and encourage the synthesis of ideas toward actionable strategies for circular and sustainable business models. Ultimately, the forum aspires to catalyze industry-wide commitment to sustainability, advocating for corporate leadership and legislative support to marry economic and environmental sustainability in medtech.

Boston Consulting Group: Medtech’s Path to a Circular Future
March 22, 2024
The medtech sector, responsible for significant carbon emissions and waste, is moving towards circularity – a transition involving comprehensive lifecycle changes, from raw materials to product end of life. This is demonstrated by companies like Stryker, which report substantial reductions in cost, waste, and carbon emissions through their successful medical device reprocessing program. The move towards reprocessing in medtech, is thus not only a response to environmental concerns, but also emerges as a strategic business practice within the sector.

The Times of London: The complications of a carbon-ectomy (PDF of article available here)
March 22, 2024
In this article, a prominent clinician in the UK discusses how the NHS is changing behaviors in operating theatres as part of their NIHR Programme Grant on Environmentally Sustainable Surgery. The NHS is building a toolkit for 3 clear stream (contaminated, household, recycling) and seeking to explore a circular economy for high value plastics.

APM News: Experimentation on reprocessed single-use medical devices: the DGS promises to publish the decrees before the end of the year (email Dan for access to the full article)
March 18, 2024
France’s healthcare sector is preparing for a significant shift towards sustainability, with imminent decrees expected to initiate an experiment in reprocessing single-use medical devices. This step, embedded in the 2024 social security financing law, aims to halve the healthcare sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The decrees will open avenues for health establishments to either utilize reprocessed devices with CE marking or internally reprocess for reuse. This experiment underscores a broader commitment to minimizing environmental impact and enhancing sustainable health care practices.

Medscape UK: Forget Single-Use…NHS Should Reuse and Remanufacture
March 14, 2024
A new report urges the NHS to abandon single-use medical products in favor of reuse and remanufacturing strategies to cut costs and achieve net-zero targets. The MedTech Spotlight Report, from the University of Exeter’s CE-Hub, emphasizes a circular economy model. Success stories like Revolution-ZERO’s reusable surgical textiles and device remanufacturing companies like Vanguard illustrate the massive financial and environmental benefits of this model for healthcare.

Fierce Healthcare: Hackensack Meridian hospitals first to attain Joint Commission’s new sustainability certification
March 7, 2024
Four Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) hospitals are the first in the country to achieve the Joint Commission’s sustainable healthcare certification. The voluntary program for hospitals went into effect at the start of this year and provides a framework to help organizations tackle decarbonization efforts. Attaining the certification means the hospitals have met rigorous standards and elements of performance to accelerate the sector’s sustainability efforts, according to a joint press release. HMH’s efforts to reprocess medical devices was specifically highlighted for saving $1.71 million and diverting over 40,000 pounds from landfills.

LinkedIn: In Brighton’s Julia Meister, AMDR Welcomes a Communicator, Collaborator, and Net-Zero Hero
March 6, 2024
Julia A. Meister, a Ph.D. student at the University of Brighton, pursued a study supported by AMDR and member data (“NHS Sustainability: From Hero to Net Zero”) that showed how using reprocessed devices could cut carbon emissions in half, or more, compared to using non-reprocessed or “virgin” ones. It also achieved a depth of analysis that went a step beyond related LCAs with similar findings by tying the benefits of reprocessing to the real-world experiences of hospitals, customizing emissions models to specific hospitals’ practices to provide an emissions estimate personalized to that hospital. Read this new interview with AMDR President Daniel Vukelich to see how Julia’s research links the cost-savings and environmental sustainability benefits of reprocessing for hospitals, finding that reprocessing virgin electrophysiology devices reduces their annual cost by 45 percent — freeing up funds that can then be reinvested in other healthcare services.

French Society of Hospital Hygiene: SF2H Bulletin n°149 (article is in French, please email Dan for English translation)
March 2024
In their 149th newsletter, the French Society of Hospital Hygiene (SF2H) highlights a significant development in France’s medical device reprocessing: the planned experiment to start reprocessing single-use devices legally by November 2024, with an eye towards ensure healthcare safety and sustainability. Representatives from SF2H visited AMDR member Vanguard, a key player in this initiative, emphasizing the complexity and rigor of the reprocessing techniques practiced in Vanguard’s Berlin facility. SF2H specifically highlighted Vanguard’s multiple quality checks and compliance with European regulatory frameworks. Vanguard’s processes not only ensure the functionality and safety of their products but also significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their customers, underscoring the potential benefits of reprocessing in managing healthcare resources and environmental impact.

Health Care Business News: In Three-Part Series, Innovative Health’s Lars Thording Offers Reprocessing Best Practices
March 2024
In a series of three articles, Innovative Health’s Lars Thording offers health systems and providers practical advice on how to best implement medical device reprocessing programs in their practices. Thording’s articles raises questions that providers should be asking themselves and their suppliers about three areas key to ensuring a successful reprocessing program:

1. Transparency
   February 27, 2024
   The first article in the series looks at the evolution of the reprocessing industry and empowers providers who are learning to navigate it. In recent decades, Thording writes, single-use device reprocessing has become standard in hospitals across the country as a valuable tool in reducing the cost and environmental footprint of patient care. The continued growth of reprocessing represents a moment of vulnerability in which a lack of diligence could erode the hard-won reputation of reprocessed products. As new reprocessors enter the market, they must be held to the high standards that have been established in the industry, including robust transparency. This article takes a look at the questions hospitals should be asking to ensure their partners are providing the transparency needed to maintain an efficient and successful reprocessing program.
    
2. Value
   March 1, 2024
   The hospital cost savings that are possible through a well-run single-use device reprocessing program are well-documented. Reprocessed devices are, after all, much more affordable than new ones, while still delivering the same safety and efficacy. However, maximizing the full value of a device reprocessing program is about more than just comparing the cost of a new device to a reprocessed one. In this second article, Thording details the principles that have guided the reprocessing industry for 25 years in order to maximize cost-savings, efficiency, and sustainability.
    
3. Safety
   March 4, 2024
   Since FDA began regulating single-use device reprocessing in 2000, the conduct of single-use device reprocessors – their high standards, their transparency, and their commitment to building a sustainable future for reprocessing – have enabled the broad acceptance of reprocessing among U.S. hospitals. But for reprocessing to become the norm, the industry must maintain its proven track record for patient safety. In this third and final article, Thording outlines best practices regarding this most critical issue.

By ensuring their partners are committed to best practices in the above areas, health systems can can ensure their organization is maximizing the sustainability, efficiency, safety and overall value of their single-use device reprocessing programs. AMDR is grateful to Lars for raising these important questions in pursuit of a stronger, broader medical device reprocessing industry.

AMDR: Ethylene Oxide and Single-Use Devices
February 26, 2024
AMDR is receiving notices of increased interest and questions about the use of the gas Ethylene Oxide (EtO), which may be used as a sterilant for reprocessed single-use devices SUDs). AMDR will continue to monitor the discussion surrounding the use of EtO and any changes that may be made to regulatory requirements or recognized standards. Whatever changes may or may not happen, however, it is important to note that both OEM and reprocessed devices will be subjected to the same strictures. In the end, therefore, the use of reprocessed devices remains the prudent environmental and economic choice.

Albuquerque Journal: Single-use plastics revolutionized the medical industry. Now, they’re raising concerns about sustainability.
February 26, 2024
The 20th century brought airplanes, radio, television, the internet, and plastic. Lots of plastic. That plastic is now showing up on shorelines, forming islands in oceans, and generating mountains of translucent trash on land. Around 700 species of animals in the sea have been found to interact with plastic daily. Companies across every industry face pressure to reduce the amount of plastic they produce. Seventy-two percent of the world’s largest have made voluntary commitments to reduce their plastic waste, according to a Duke University analysis. One industry, in particular, has greatly benefited from advancements in single-use plastic technology: the medical industry. Only in recent years have businesses and academics in the field begun to talk about minimizing their impact on our environment like beverage manufacturers and other consumer goods-producing businesses.

TIME: Climate Change Poses Risks to Our Health. These Nurses Want to Fix That
February 21, 2024
Nurses, historically significant in healthcare reforms, are now focusing on reducing healthcare’s environmental impact and addressing climate change. Under the banner of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE), nurses are engaging in legislative efforts, partnering with healthcare systems to reduce carbon footprints, and even participating in litigation to enforce environmental standards. In short, the responsibilities of nurses is evolving beyond patient care to planetary care.

BNN Breaking: Hospitals Tackle Climate Change: The Urgent Shift Towards Sustainability in Healthcare
February 21, 2024
While the U.S. grapples with its environmental impact, Europe appears to be taking significant strides in healthcare sustainability. The reprocessing of single-use medical devices, a practice gaining traction across the Atlantic, showcases a promising route to reduce emissions and waste. The French Society of Cardiology has advocated for such measures, emphasizing their potential to alleviate supply tensions, minimize environmental harm, and cut costs. This approach not only presents an opportunity for environmental savings but also positions Europe at the forefront of a crucial shift towards sustainable healthcare. The question now is, can the U.S. harness similar strategies to not just catch up but lead in healthcare sustainability?

MedCity News: Is Europe About to Overtake the U.S.’s Leadership Position in Healthcare Sustainability via Reprocessing?
February 20, 2024
In a new article, Innovative Health’s Lars Thording discusses how the FDA’s regulation of reprocessed single-use devices not only enhanced safety and savings in the U.S. health sector, but also positioned the U.S. at the forefront of healthcare sustainability. However, this leadership is now at risk – especially compared to advances in European healthcare practices. Thording explores the significant environmental benefits of reprocessing, its impact on reducing CO2 emissions, and how it presents a multifaceted approach to sustainability in healthcare, particularly in electrophysiology, through international perspectives and innovative practices.

The Commonwealth Fund: Medical Professional Societies Are Well Positioned to Work Toward Climate Change Reform in Practice and Policy
February 7, 2024
In the United States, the health sector contributes approximately 8.5 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions and toxic air pollutants — far more than in any other nation. As health care professionals seek to uphold the core value of “do no harm,” they must take initiative to reduce health care’s contributions to climate change. Professional medical societies have a crucial role to play in creating momentum on this front, write Clémence Marty-Chastan, a Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellow, and Jodi D. Sherman, M.D., on To the Point. These groups can create dedicated environmental sustainability committees to improve knowledge, research, practice, and policy — for example, by developing new educational curricula and board recertification questions and evaluating research evidence for sustainable practices. Learn more about how medical societies can organize their members to be a force for reducing U.S. health care’s environmental impact and improving resilience in a rapidly changing climate.

Portuguese Council for Health and Environment: CPSA Manifesto – 25 proposals for the Legislative Elections
January 31, 2024
The Portuguese Council for Health and Environment (CPSA) today released a Manifesto calling on the political parties that will participate in the Legislative Elections on March 10, 2024 to include in their electoral programs and in their government action concrete measures in area of ​​Health and Environment. Of the CPSA’s 25 proposals, two explicitly advocate for greater use of – and fewer restrictions prohibiting – the reuse of single-use devices. CPSA represents 74 groups involved in health care, namely, professional associations, scientific societies, universities, manufacturers and their representatives, patient associations, private hospitals, etc.

Stryker: Comparative Carbon Footprint of Reprocessed Single Use Medical Devices
March 2024
Stryker has recently published an impressive life cycle analysis showcasing the success of their reprocessing programs in vastly reducing greenhouse gas emissions in healthcare. The report compares the carbon footprints of five reprocessed devices to those of their original manufacturing scenarios. The report finds that reprocessing significantly reduced the carbon footprints for all five devices, and recommends “working to move the legislative needle towards more FDA-approved reprocessing cycles for each SUD” to further optimize reprocessing programs.

Cardinal Health: Fiscal 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance Report
February 2024
Cardinal Health has released their environmental, social and governance report for fiscal year 2023. In addition to emphasizing Cardinal’s efforts on matters such as accessibility of care, supply chain resilience, and diversity, equity and inclusion, the report gives special attention to Sustainable Technologies, the company’s medical device reprocessing business. Sustainable Technologies nearly doubled the size of its Florida facility in 2023, collected an estimated 17.05 million single-use devices, and diverted an estimated 5.24 million pounds of waste from landfills.

UK Department of Health & Social Care: Medical technology strategy: one year on
April 9, 2024
The report “The Medical Technology Strategy: One Year On” elaborates on the UK’s strides toward a sustainable and circular economy in medical technology, including through the “Design for Life” program initiated in March 2023. This initiative is focused on standardizing reuse, remanufacture, and materials recovery across medtech systems, involving a collaborative effort between the government, industry, healthcare sectors, and academia to forge a resource-efficient health sector. Scheduled to publish a roadmap in 2024, the program has gathered over 90 recommendations from stakeholders to help formulate actionable steps and identify research areas for future development. Complementarily, the NHS England’s February 2024 small and medium enterprise (SME) action plan aims to enhance SME engagement, leveraging small business innovation for improved patient care and system efficiency, thereby underlining a comprehensive approach to fostering a resilient, innovative, and sustainable medtech environment.

UK Health Alliance on Climate Change: Green Surgery Report: Case Studies
April 2024
In November 2023, the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change released the landmark Green Surgery Report, which presented “the first detailed account of how to reduce the environmental impact of surgical care while maintaining high quality patient care and potentially saving the NHS money.” At the time, AMDR celebrated the report’s inclusion of third-party device remanufacturing as a key strategy to achieve this goal. Now, the Alliance presents a series of case studies confirming the benefits of remanufacturing, specifically evaluating partnerships between four British health systems and AMDR member Vanguard. In total, these four health systems saved over £123,124 in costs and eliminated approximately 1,298.91 kgs in carbon emissions, representing nearly 50% reductions in both categories compared to single-use paradigms.

CE-Hub: MedTech Spotlight Report: accelerating circular economy adoption
March 2024
This report champions the shift towards a circular economy within the UK’s medtech sector. In particular, it leverages multiple life cycle assessments and case studies to illuminate the significant economic and ecological advantages of medical device reprocessing. Furthermore, the report highlights the Association of Medical Device Reprocessors (AMDR) as an example pf trade associations advancing circularity in healthcare, commending us for our efforts in promoting reprocessing and aggregating impactful data from our member companies.

The European Commission: Study on the implementation of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices on the EU market
February 2024
This comprehensive study, published by the European Commission and conducted from December 2022 to February 2024, evaluated the implementation of Article 17 of the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) regarding the reprocessing of single-use devices (SUDs) across 30 European countries. Findings indicate a divided stance: 17 countries prohibit reprocessing, 10 permit it, and 3 remain undecided, with limited certification activity by Notified Bodies due to various hindrances including national prohibitions and a lack of interest. Contributing to the study, the AMDR President and CEO Daniel Vukelich reported interest in the European market on the part of American reprocessing companies despite the challenges caused by regulatory fragmentation – he nonetheless noted that he knew of at least one reprocessing company that indicated they would do business in Europe because of these challenges. The study highlights the economic and environmental benefits of reprocessing, yet acknowledges substantial obstacles such as safety concerns, regulatory complexities, and the need for clearer guidance and certification processes. Conclusively, 17 recommendations were proposed to address these challenges, aiming to enhance clarity, harmonize regulations, and encourage further research to optimize the reprocessing of SUDs in Europe.

French Society of Cardiology: Position paper on sustainability in cardiac pacing and electrophysiology
January 15, 2024
In a new position paper, the Working Group of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology of the French Society of Cardiology heavily endorsed regulated medical device reprocessing as a demonstrated means of improving sustainability and reducing costs in healthcare. At times leaning on AMDR sources, the paper establishes the economic and environmental benefits of reprocessing – but also goes further, analyzing and criticizing the uneven authorization of reprocessing across Europe as a result of the supremacy of national regulations under the current MDR. In addition to advocating for reprocessing, the paper calls for collaboration among healthcare professionals, policymakers, and manufacturers to innovate and integrate sustainable practices without compromising patient care.

NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business: Healthcare Delivery Systems Decarbonization Framework
October 2023
Leveraging the unique Return on Sustainability Investment (ROSI™) methodology developed by NYU Stern CSB, the Healthcare Delivery Systems Decarbonization Framework identifies decarbonization strategies that healthcare delivery systems can use to make the internal business case for implementing decarbonization practices, develop more resilient organizations and drive financial value. Among other strategies, the Framework leans on AMDR sources to recommend medical device reprocessing as a means of reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing diversity and resilience in the supply chain.

LinkedIn: Greener Horizons in Healthcare: Charting the Path towards Sustainable Innovation featuring Daniel Vukelich
April 24, 2024
AMDR President Daniel J. Vukelich, Esq., CAE, was honored to connect with #sustainablehealthcare experts from the health sector and academia at the recent 20th Annual Yale Healthcare Conference, where he joined a panel, “Greener Horizons in Healthcare: Charting the Path towards Sustainable Innovation,” with Jodi Sherman, MD, Andy Draper, Emily Senay, MD, MPH, Jonathan Slutzman, and Helen Wilmot.

Thank you to all those who made the Yale Healthcare Conference possible! We were excited to share ideas and explore strategies to accelerate acceptance of simple innovations like #reprocessing of “single-use” #medicaldevices that will continue to help #hospitals cut their #ghgemissions, strengthen resilience in the medical supply chain, and save costs.

We look forward to building upon collaborations as we advance sustainability in healthcare and beyond.

LinkedIn: Free CO2 Calculator to Help Hospital Sustainability Managers Track and Reduce Stubborn Supply Chain Emissions by Using Regulated, Reprocessed Single-Use Medical Devices from AMDR Members
April 22, 2024
Celebrate #EarthDay by exploring AMDR’s new CO2 calculator, powered by research from LCAs that show #reprocessed “single-use” #medicaldevices (rSUDs) reduce #ghgemissions at hospitals by an average of 44%: https://ow.ly/CQaG50RkQlJ

The calculator gives sustainability managers a free tool to track and lower emissions at hospitals by using rSUDs.

“We have long had the science to prove reprocessing is safe, and more recently because of peer reviewed life cycle assessments, we know they substantially cut emissions compared to using virgin devices,” said Daniel J. Vukelich, President and CEO, AMDR. “But now, we’ve created a free calculator tool – available for all to use – so that hospitals everywhere can approximate how much they are reducing their carbon footprint by using reprocessed ‘single-use’ devices.”

By using rSUDs, AMDR members help nearly 10,000 #hospitals slash pollution-causing waste from the medical supply chain while saving costs and critical resources.

“LCAs have been providing valuable data and insights in other industries for decades, and we’re proud to help translate this science into meaning for hospitals,” said sustainability researcher Cassandra Thiel, PhD, President and CEO of Clinically Sustainable Consulting. “Based on the research, a switch to more reprocessed devices is a straightforward way for hospitals to reduce their carbon footprint.”

LinkedIn: Collective Healthcare Action to Reduce MedTech Emissions (CHARME) tackles emissions-intensive health care supply chain
April 10, 2024
Congrats to the Cardinal Health team on this fantastic step forward as we work together to help create a greener #circulareconomy in healthcare and beyond!

LinkedIn: Join Vanguard at EHRA2024 in Berlin!
April 8, 2024
Meet the #VanguardAG team at #EHRA2024!

LinkedIn: Assessment confirms environmental, economic benefits of reprocessing compression sleeves
April 3, 2024
New research shows that #reprocessing “single-use” medical devices (SUDs) makes it easier for providers to slash pollution-causing waste, build a more sustainable medical supply chain, and save costs.

Explore a recent life cycle assessment (LCA) from Cardinal Health’s Sustainable Technologies™ business, published in the peer-reviewed journal, Risk Management and Healthcare Policy.

Learn about the environmental and economic benefits of this green technology that more healthcare leaders are embracing as a simple, effective, and affordable solution.

LinkedIn: Comparative Carbon Footprint LCA
April 2, 2024
#Reprocessed “single-use” #medicaldevices (SUDs) can help #hospitals cut their carbon footprint, a peer-reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) released this week by Stryker’s Sustainability Solutions finds. Reprocessing SUDs lowers #ghgemissions from 23-51 percent compared with manufacturing the original device, results from the LCA study show.

Learn more about specific carbon emissions reductions for each of these five reprocessed SUDs.

LinkedIn: Circular Economy in the Medical Technology Sector
March 23, 2024
Remanufacturing of “single-use” #medicaldevices helps the #medtech sector build a circular economy that makes it easier for hospitals to cut #ghgemissions and save costs, the recent MedTech Spotlight Report by the National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research programme’s (NICER) CE Hub finds. Learn more: https://ow.ly/FlpI50QZ3EH

Explore how expanded use of remanufactured SUDs like harmonic shears could help the NHS advance net-zero goals while saving critical financial resources.

“[Our research] demonstrates that reuse of SUDs is a practical reality in the UK and as seen in the USA and elsewhere. Given the cost and carbon savings that can be made now and the lack of a viable ‘designed for reuse’ alternatives, there is a strong case for the rapid and widespread adoption of remanufactured [medical devices] across the UK NHS.”

The time is now for public health leaders to accelerate research-driven climate-smart innovations.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn: In Brighton’s Julia Meister, AMDR Welcomes a Communicator, Collaborator, and Net-Zero Hero
March 6, 2024
Julia A. Meister, a Ph.D. student at the University of Brighton, pursued a study supported by AMDR and member data (“NHS Sustainability: From Hero to Net Zero”) that showed how using #reprocessed devices could cut #ghgemissions in half, or more, compared to using non-reprocessed or “virgin” ones. It also achieved a depth of analysis that went a step beyond related LCAs with similar findings by tying the benefits of #reprocessing to the real-world experiences of #hospitals, customizing emissions models to specific hospitals’ practices to provide an emissions estimate personalized to that hospital.

Read this new interview with AMDR President Daniel J. Vukelich, Esq., CAE, to see how Julia’s research links the cost-savings and environmental sustainability benefits of reprocessing for hospitals, finding that reprocessing virgin #electrophysiology devices reduces their annual cost by 45 percent — freeing up funds that can then be reinvested in other #healthcare services: https://lnkd.in/gHV_qg9Y

“Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to a more sustainable, unburdened, and most importantly accessible healthcare infrastructure, so that patients like my grandads can get the care they deserve,” Julia says. “This is a lifelong aspiration and something that I’ll continue to work on, but it’s also one that I can’t achieve alone.

“Over the past few years, I’ve been incredibly lucky to take part in some really interesting projects and collaborations [like between the University of Brighton and AMDR]. Each time, my belief that sharing research is vital was reinforced, because over and over again, I saw that the real impact comes from making research resonate with as many people as possible.”

Join AMDR in thanking Julia and her team for contributing this outstanding research, which won the Bronze Sustainability Award in the prestigious Parliamentary and Scientific Committee’s STEM for BRITAIN 2023 competition. We look forward to future collaborations with Julia and other amazing reprocessing advocates! #medicaldevice #medicaldevices #ghgemissions #climatechangesolutions

LinkedIn: Ethylene Oxide and Reprocessed Single-Use Devices
February 28, 2024
DYK? Federal safety standards with regard to sterility often require the use of Ethylene Oxide (EtO). In cases where only EtO works, both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and reprocessors use the same amount of EtO. Learn about EtO and how the use of #reprocessed devices is more beneficial to the environment than original ones, according to numerous Life Cycle Assessments. Check out this new story from AMDR: https://ow.ly/YSrT50QIbrh

The American Hospital Association reports that 50 percent of medical devices used in the U.S. cannot be effectively or efficiently sterilized using any other method than EtO — a colorless, flammable and explosive gas, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more: https://ow.ly/YSrT50QIbrh

LinkedIn: Cardinal Health’s “Fiscal 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance Report”
February 24, 2024
Cardinal Health‘s Sustainable Technologies™ business diverted over 5M pounds of waste from landfills in 2023 through the reprocessing of “single-use” medical devices (SUDs), nearly doubling the size of its Florida facility the same year. Read Cardinal Health’s newly released “Fiscal 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance Report:” https://lnkd.in/dYZQiCQa

More U.S. hospitals are turning to reprocessing of “single-use” medical devices, both to reduce their environmental impact and reduce costs. Through Cardinal Health’s Sustainable Technologies™ business, we are helping to meet the demand, providing SUD collections and reprocessing services. Reprocessed devices are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and have the potential to extend the life of medical devices and reduce waste.

LinkedIn: Medical Professional Societies Are Well Positioned to Work Toward Climate Change Reform in Practice and Policy
February 21, 2024
Professional medical societies can mobilize their members to advance the principle of “do no harm” through reprocessing of “single-use” medical devices and other research-driven, #climatesmart innovations that help #hospitals cut #ghgemissions while strengthening supply chain resilience. Explore The Commonwealth Fund’s new report: https://ow.ly/hV3T50QFNmP

Thanks to authors Clémence Marty-Chastan, 2023–24 French Harkness Fellow, Head of Strategy and Transformation, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris (AP–HP); and Jodi Sherman, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, for this outstanding piece.

“Professional medical societies are well positioned to play an important role in this area. Clinical professional organizations determine evidence-based practice standards and are best suited to develop and implement actions for each specialty and across specialties. Societies can create dedicated environmental sustainability committees to improve knowledge, research, practice, and policy. Committee responsibilities can include…[d]eveloping professional sustainable practice standards and guidelines…for example, whether it is appropriate to use single-use vs. reusable medical devices, from infection prevention, supply chain resilience, and environmental perspectives.”

LinkedIn: AMDR Winter 2023/2024 Reprocessing Newsletter
February 16, 2024
New research points to reprocessing “single-use” medical devices as an effective tool that helps hospitals slash their #carbonfootprint while saving millions in cost. Read AMDR’s Winter 2023/2024 Newsletter: https://ow.ly/H8Ib50QBBI9

Findings from a recent LCA of reprocessed IPC sleeves, for example, shows that reprocessing cut #ghgemissions by more than 40 percent and waste disposal costs by 90 percent, while data from Practice Greenhealth reveals this simple innovation saved over $50M in costs, also diverting 1.5M+ pounds of waste from landfills.

Learn how support for “single-use” medical device reprocessing is reaching historic highs and revolutionizing healthcare delivery like never before, thanks to the tireless work of AMDR members and advocates.

LinkedIn: U.S. Health Care Workers Want Their Employers to Address Climate Change
February 8, 2024
Support among healthcare workers for accelerating environmentally sustainable solutions like medical device #reprocessing and other climate mitigation initiatives throughout the health sector is rapidly growing, as data in a new survey from The Commonwealth Fund suggests: https://ow.ly/WzCY50QywIi

The findings show that about four in five clinicians believe it’s crucial for their #hospital to address #climatechange as part of its mission, while six in 10 say a prospective employer’s commitment to advancing decarbonization efforts would influence whether they apply for a job there. Explore other key stats and share!

LinkedIn: Practice Greenhealth 2023 Sustainability Benchmark Report
February 2, 2024
“Single-use” medical device (SUD) #reprocessing saved U.S. #hospitals and medical centers nearly $51M while diverting 1.6M pounds of waste and reducing disposal costs by nearly $500K, Practice Greenhealth‘s recently released 2023 Sustainability Benchmark Data Report shows.

Check it out and take a closer look at how U.S. health systems are benefiting from SUD reprocessing programs they implemented: https://ow.ly/37yn50Qx3ZJ