Duke Recovers
Duke Recovers
Recovering Medical Equipment for Developing Nations
BACKGROUND
Currently run by three Duke medical students, Allison McCoy, Kristine Schmit and Robin Cisco (see below for contact information), Duke Recovers was created to recycle medical supplies that would otherwise be
thrown away due to the litigious climate in the United States. Modelled after the pilot medical supply recovery program in the U.S., Yale University's Remedy, Duke Recovers gathers materials which have been prepared for (but not
actually used in) operations, then resterilizes, packages and delivers these supplies to
developing countries which do not have the same legal restrictions. Since its inception in 1996, Duke Recovers has sent approximately $5,000,000 worth of materials to a variety of
countries including Cuba, India, Malawi, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Vietnam,
and many others. This recovery program has been remarkably free of
costs and easy to maintain.
The following is a description of the program intended to pique further
interest in developing similar programs in hospitals throughout the
nation. If you are interested in starting a similar program at your
hospital, check out the following link to our Medical Supply Recovery Program Start-Up Guide or feel free to contact any of the personnel listed at the bottom of this page.
OPERATIONS
Supply Recovery
-For each operation at Duke University Hospital, a case cart is prepared
and brought to the operating room. After the operation, the cart is
then returned to the Sterile Processing Department where the waste is
discarded, the resterilizable materials are decontaminated and the cart
is prepared for the next operation.
-The Duke Recovers process begins with the return of the case cart to the Sterile
Processing Department. At this point, the Sterile Processing employees will
review the scrub table for items whose sterile packaging has been compromised-but which have not been used in
the surgical procedure nor noticeably contaminated. Items accidentally
contaminated by reasons other than patient contact, will also be
recovered. These materials, along with the excess equipment on the
cart which would normally be discarded, will be placed in large plastic
bins.
-Once or twice a week, the bins will be emptied by designated
individuals who will inspect for unsuitable materials, i.e. accidentally
recovered opened sutures or soiled sponges. After inspecting for
inappropriate supplies, the materials are then inventoried, packaged and
delivered.
Inventorying,
Packaging and Delivering Supplies
-Before handling any materials, everyone dons gloves from inside
the cart.
-Boxes for packaging are then prepared (securely taped) and the cans of
supplies are retrieved.
-The materials are then packaged into boxes and the contents are
recorded on the inventory sheet.
-Once the boxes have been inventoried, packed and clearly labelled with the date,
the inventory sheets are then copied. One copy is retained for Duke Recovers records and
the other is enclosed in one of the boxes which is then clearly labelled "INVENTORY
ENCLOSED". Additionally, each box is individually labelled with the legal
disclaimer displayed below.
-Boxes are then stored in front of the loading dock doors until
enough exist in order to make a full pallet.
-Once enough boxes are collected to stack a full pallet, the person in charge
for that day calls the warehouse to come and get the pallet until Old Dominion
arrives to take it to Global Links.
Recoverable Materials
Commonly recovered materials include, but are not limited
to:
Absorbable Hemostats, Electrosurgical Dispersive Electrodes, Skin Staples
Absorbent Towels, Burn Dressings, Ace Bandages, ETT, Soft Suction, Aortic
Cannula, Femoral Irrigation and Suction Tip Sets, Specimen
Containers, Arthroscopy Drapes, Staple Removers, Tissue Staplers and
Refills, Foley Catheters, SteriStrips, Heel Protectors, SteriDrapes, 4X4
Sponges, Hemo Clips, Sterile Gloves, Cover Sponges, Hemovacs, Stockinet
Impervious, Cautery Pad, Impervious Split Drapes, Straight
Catheters, Cautery Pencils, Intestinal Suckers, Suction Hoses, C-Arm
Drapes, Irrigational Syringes, Surgical Gowns, Cast Padding, IV
sets, Sutures (no sharps exposed, foil intact), Cherry Sponges, Jackson
Pratt Drains, Chest Tubes, Rolled Gauze, T-U-R-Y Sets, Tape Rolls, Large
Drapes, Tefla Packaged, Surgical Patties-In Package, Disposable
Vascular Clips, Tube and Cord Holders, Urine Culture Tubes, Sponges-
Packed, Magnetic Pads, Urine Drainage Bags, Open Sponges, Mucus
Traps, Urine Meters, Lap Sets 18X18, Open Sta-Tites, Vascular Occlusions,
Lap Sets 4X18, Other Syringes, Vaseline Gauze, Cone Splash Shields, Paper
Towels, Wet Prufs Packaged, Extremity Sheets, Partial Laps 4X18,
Xeroform, Skin Graft Carriers, Peanut Sponges, Yankeurs, Skin Markers,
Scalpel Blades (no sharps exposed, foil intact), Penrose Drains, Packs of
Prep Solution and Salem Sumps.
Legal Concerns
In order to avoid possible legal repercussions, disclaimers will be added
to the shipment, including the following label which will be placed on
the outside of the boxes:
This box contains medical supplies recovered from the operating room
of Duke University Hospital. Caution should be exercised when
removing these articles. Sharps may accidentally be exposed. Examine
each product to determine its suitability for patient use. These items
must be re-sterilized before patient use. The provider makes no
representation that resterilization is unnecessary.
Charity Information
Global Links
4809 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
(412) 361-3424
Contact: Kathleen Hower
Global Links:
Since its founding in 1989, Global Links has grown to rapidly become a
leader in the recovery and reuse of surplus medical supplies. Careful
records are kept of all donations, which are distributed directly to
recipient hospitals, clinics, and health posts by global links'
representatives in the donor countries. The materials are sent only to
established programs in order to ensure that they reach their destination.
As of today, Global Links has programs in: Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Gabon,
Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mongolia, New Guinea, Nicaragua,
Pakistan, Peru, Sudan, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda,
Ukraine, Vietnam, Zaire, and more! They have agreed to accept all the
materials that we can gather in the operating rooms at Duke University
Hospital.
Global Links is an IRS 501c(3) organization registered with the U.S. Agency
for International Development. For tax purposes, their identification number
is 52-1629060. For more information, see their website at the following
address: http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/globallinks/index.html
Staff
Program Directors:
Allison McCoyamccoy@duke.edu
Kristine Schmitschmi025@mc.duke.edu
Robin Ciscomalon020@mc.duke.edu
If this sounds like something you'd like to help with (or if you are just interested in more information) feel free to write to us...
We'd love to have you!!!!
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