Members of Surgical Services (l-r) Kathy Adams, R.N.; Desiree Foster, CST; Sherry Cooper, R.N., Surgical Services; Crissy DePino, surgery scheduler; Rhonda Bristol, R.N.; Kevin Crowe, R.N.; Joe Pesha, clean hold tech; Karen Hurst, scheduler; and Omar Gutierrez, S.T. Center: Laura Meredith, R.N., and David Lurry, CST.

Indian River Medical Center saved $101,338 and diverted 3,326 pounds of medical devices with its reprocessing program in 2010. By meeting these financial and environmental savings goals over time, Ascent awarded IRMC its ‘Health Hospital Silver Award’ for 2010.

IRMC began reprocessing products in 2009. Employees place ultrasonic scalpels, for example, in a special bin, which Ascent then picks up, reprocesses and sells back to IRMC at a discount. IRMC saved $52,800 in 2010 doing this with scalpels alone. Other items include open/unused/expired items; endoscopic trocars; tourniquet cuffs; burrs, bits and blades; pulse oximeter sensors; and arthroscopic shavers.