Medical Materials Recovery

What is medical materials recovery?
Unused medical supplies from healthcare facilities are diverted to charitable organizations. Volunteers then collect, sort, and ship supplies. This costs the facility virtually nothing. These materials include everything from ace bandages to sutures, including used (but still working) medical equipment, from autoclaves to wheelchairs.

Who benefits from recovered medical supplies?

• People in countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa who are in dire need of medical supplies.
• Healthcare facilities save money because unused supplies are diverted from the waste stream, and therefore they do not have to pay to have supplies treated and discarded.
• Some charitable organizations can provide tax incentives for donations.
• Landfill space is preserved.

What legal questions arise from recovered medical supplies?
Hospitals are rightly concerned about liability. Several hospitals in North Carolina presently recover unused medical supplies. REMEDY can help discuss issues with hospital legal counsel. In over 14 years of similar programs in place in other hospitals, there has never been a lawsuit.

How are medical supplies collected?
Usually, doctors and nurses at healthcare locations place unused medical supplies in bins or barrels. Volunteers then go to the different departments to collect, sort and pack supplies (one type of item per box).

Where to find more information?
The REMEDY in-service teaching packet is free and available to facilities upon request on the web at WWW.REMEDYINC.ORG or call Bill Patrakis at (336) 771-5091.