Natural rubber latex gloves are less expensive to buy than synthetic latex surgical gloves but can cause allergic reactions in staff and patients. This study conducted at Alta Bates Medical Center (Berkeley, CA) prepared a cost benefit analysis comparing the different types of gloves and including the cost of treating cases of allergy. The hospital did already use a large number of synthetic gloves, but converting completely to the synthetic gloves was found to save nearly $75,000 or 25 percent of overall OR operating costs.
Source: Wharton, K.R., and others. (2016, June). Can converting to synthetic surgical gloves lower hospital operating room costs? OR Manager, 32(6), 22-23, 25-26. Click here for the publisher’s website: http://www.ormanager.com/can-converting-synthetic-surgical-gloves-lower-hospital-operating-room-costs/ The article mentions that a full case study can be requested from one of the authors – Philippe Henderson – by emailing him at: philippe.henderson@kraton.com Posted by AHA Resource Center (312) 422-2050, rc@aha.org
Filed under: Posted by Kim Garber, Surgical suite | Tagged: Latex gloves, Latex gloves allergy costs, Operating rooms, Surgical suite, Synthetic gloves cost benefit |
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