A recent study by the European Society of Cardiology revealed strong physician motivation to minimize the environmental footprint of electrophysiology (EP) procedures. Surveying 278 physicians across 42 hospitals, the study found that 62% were eager to explore more sustainable approaches. Catheter reuse emerged as the most frequently cited potential solution. This is a significant development, considering that over half of used catheters currently end up as medical waste, while reuse rates remain below 20%. To increase reuse, two primary avenues exist:
- Manufacturers can shift towards producing reusable catheters instead of single-use options.
- Hospitals can collaborate with companies like Elite Cardiology Group to utilize reprocessed single-use catheters.
Given electrophysiologists want hospitals to become more sustainable, what are manufacturers doing about it?
Sana Kliniken Lübeck in Germany has partnered with Biosense Webster and Resourcecify to pilot a "Zero. Waste. Vision" program within their heart catheterization laboratory. This collaboration aims to address the significant environmental impact of discarded medical devices, particularly ablation and diagnostic catheters, which are currently incinerated as medical waste.
By partnering with Resourcecify, a sustainable waste management platform, Sana Kliniken Lübeck seeks to:
- Recycle valuable materials: Extract and recover valuable metals contained within the discarded catheters.
- Promote a circular economy: Return these recovered materials back into the manufacturing process, minimizing the need for new raw materials.
This initiative represents a crucial step towards more sustainable practices in cardiology and demonstrates a commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of healthcare.
Given Biosense Webster's commitment to "reduce expenses and decrease environmental impact while maintaining excellent patient outcomes," Innovative Health anticipates the company will soon launch similar sustainability initiatives in the US. This expectation is further supported by the recent announcement from Sana Kliniken Lübeck in Germany, where Biosense Webster is partnering with Resourcecify to implement a sustainable waste management program. Recognizing the significant environmental impact of the healthcare sector, exceeding even that of air travel, both Resourcecify and Biosense Webster emphasize the importance of contributing to a more sustainable healthcare system. While a comparable program has yet to be introduced in the US, there are a lot of hospitals in Canada and US that are currently participating in a limited "buy-back" program for used ultrasound catheters, diagnostic catheters and ablation catheters offered by Elite Cardiology Group for $10 to $65 per unit.
From an environmental perspective, to increase the benefit of recycling EP catheters, using reprocessed devices offers more:
- Recycling Limitations: Recycling typically involves breaking down the device and extracting recyclable materials, such as metals, for use in other products. This process often utilizes a significant amount of energy and resources.
- Reprocessing Advantages: Reprocessing, on the other hand, allows for the complete reuse of the device after thorough cleaning and sterilization. This significantly reduces the environmental impact by minimizing resource consumption and reducing the need for new manufacturing processes.
- Environmental Impact: Studies have shown that reprocessed catheters have a significantly lower carbon footprint than new devices, often by more than 50%. In contrast, recycling programs can actually increase the carbon footprint by necessitating the production of new catheters.
- Physician Expectations: It's likely that the physicians surveyed in the European Society of Cardiology study were envisioning solutions that minimize environmental impact. While recycling has many benefits, the environmental benefits that can be achieved through reprocessing is greater.
One of the bonuses of using reprocessed EP catheters is it doesn’t exacerbate the critical supply chain shortages currently plaguing the healthcare industry.
When devices are recycled, they are effectively removed from circulation. This means the hospital must purchase a new catheter for the next procedure, further straining already limited supplies. With manufacturers facing ongoing challenges, including component shortages and increased demand, many EP devices are currently on backorder.
Reprocessing offers a crucial solution to this problem. By allowing for the reuse of existing catheters, reprocessing:
- Reduces reliance on manufacturers: Minimizing the need to constantly order new devices from manufacturers.
- Ensures procedural continuity: Enables hospitals to maintain consistent procedural volumes, even during periods of supply chain disruptions.
- Improves operational efficiency: Reduces reliance on unpredictable delivery timelines and minimizes the risk of unexpected shortages.
In essence, reprocessing not only minimizes environmental impact but also plays a vital role in ensuring the continued availability of critical medical devices and the uninterrupted delivery of patient care.