In recent years, hospitals reported significant progress in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). But the challenges of COVID-19 pushed that number back up.
Infection control is an ongoing concern for hospitals – before COVID and certainly in the years after the pandemic.
It was a perfect storm of increased demands on hospitals/staff, sicker patients, and longer hospital stays, plus worker and supply shortages. According to this report, ”Examining the State of Infection Prevention in 2023,” healthcare-associated and antimicrobial-resistant infections in U.S. hospitals were up 15% during the first year of the pandemic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, “On any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection.”
HAIs are not only devastating and potentially deadly for patients, they cost hospitals a lot of money.
Healthcare-associated infections in U.S. hospitals have direct medical costs of at least $28.4 billion each year, according to the CDC. The center also notes these infections “account for an additional $12.4 billion in costs to society from early deaths and lost productivity.”
One way to reduce the number of HAIs is with single-patient-use products. These disposable items reduce infection rates and minimize cross-contamination from patient to patient.
Philips Compatible Disposable MX40 5 Lead Set + SpO2, Grabber, 0.9m
At Sage Services Group, we offer a number of single-use cables and accessories with an eye toward helping our healthcare clients save lives and money.
Our single-patient-use items are durable and designed to last the entire length of the patient’s stay. Once the patient is discharged, you can dispose of that item.
Our disposable products also cost less than the OEM and other third-party vendors. So, you never have to choose between cost and patient safety.
We also know how important overall infection rates are to your bottom line. Insurance companies often scrutinize these numbers, and your insurance reimbursement rates may be impacted.
Case in point, take a look at this study investigating the use of single-patient-use ECG lead wire systems and lower coronary artery bypass graft surgical site infections within a Medicare population. The results were published in the American Journal of Infection Control in 2018.
Essentially this study found “transitioning to single-patient-use ECG lead wire and cable sets … may significantly reduce SSI incidence.”
Nellcor Compatible OXI Disposable Sensor, Adult/Neonate, 0.9m, 24/BX
The study also pointed to the potential cost savings of such an effort, particularly alleviating future costs associated with healthcare-associated conditions and readmission penalties.
At Sage Services Group, we want to save you time and money so you have more resources for patient care. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing high-quality cables and accessories for patient-monitoring devices – whether you need single-use or long-lasting items.
Two of our most popular single-use items are:
Shop these and all our other disposable cables and accessories on our website.
