To effectively collect valuable medical devices that can be reprocessed or remanufactured, Ascent has developed very effective collection systems and a collection awareness program that ensures optimal environmental and financial impact of the reprocessing/remanufacturing program. Our collection systems are tailored to each clinical area where collection of devices that can be reprocessed or remanufactured takes place. These tailored collection solutions meet all federal and state regulations.
Our unique collection awareness program increases facility-wide adoption by providing a variety of reminder-and-results posters, containers and signage that positively reinforce the financial and environmental benefits. With our collection systems and awareness tools, Ascent's dedicated field service representatives sort, pack and ship collected devices, freeing in-house hospital personnel to do what they do best—care for patients.
Ascent-provided collection systems are compliant with Department of Transportation (DOT) shipping regulations. Our approved transportation carrier has certified approval for our regulatory compliant shipping system.
Since operating rooms are busy and dynamic places which pose increased challenges to collection, Ascent offers two distinct and specifically designed collection systems for the Operating Room environment: Advantage™ and ORSelect™. (For other areas of the hospital such as the EP Lab, GI Lab, CVOR, etc., we offer additional collection systems.)
Advantage™
Advantage™ is an O.R.-based collection system that is convenient, time-saving and well received by staff. This program both supports the hospital’s environmental initiatives and provides collection for devices that can be reprocessed or remanufactured. Advantage™ facilitates the capture of more devices by replacing the OR’s large red sharps container with Ascent’s approved and reusable collection container system and a small, standard sharps container currently used by the hospital in other areas. With this set-up, we collect not only the devices we can reprocess or remanufacture, but also most recyclable materials, while still separating out true medical "sharps."
Participating hospitals realize a 70%-80% reduction in operating room medical waste disposal costs and reduce the amount of devices sent to landfills, often by tens of thousands of pounds, year after year. Hence, with Advantage™ the hospital enhances its environmental stewardship in its community. The combined cost savings from not purchasing large red sharps containers, and the reduction in waste removal cost, cover the small Advantage implementation fee and provide savings within the first few months.
OnSite Select™
OnSite Select™ is the traditional O.R.-based collection modality of reprocessing and remanufacturing programs. This collection program consists of adding a reusable container to the O.R. suite and requiring staff to "select" and source separate devices that can be reprocessed and remanufactured. These hospital-approved and selected devices are put into the collection container and shipped to our production facilities for reprocessing and remanufacturing.
In some cases, even if devices are collected under the previous two programs, the responsibility of shipping collected devices is up to the hospital (rural facilities being an example). For these hospitals that choose to manage their own programs, we offer ServiceExpress™ (see below). Ascent's extensive experience allows us to simplify device collection, minimizing training time and maximizing hospital staff resources.
ServiceExpress™
ServiceExpress™ is designed for the hospital or surgery center that wants to participate in reprocessing and remanufacturing programs, but which may be located in a remote rural area or opts to only participate in one or few programs. Each ServiceExpress™ facility works with a dedicated ServiceExpress™ Administrator at Ascent headquarters who serves as the primary service contact and monitors the programs to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and overall productivity.