Medical Supplies News: Problems with PVC in IV Bags and Tubing

The low production cost and physical make-up of PVC has made it the go to plastic for medical supplies. However, in recent years, PVC has been known to pose as a problem for the health of the environment and patients who are subject to medical supplies made with PVC. Many hospitals in Europe have banned PVC medical products all-together.

PVC is carbon intensive to produce and creates harmful pollutant when disposed of, which is a problem many environmentalists are grappling to combat.

In terms of health, it also exposes patients to DEHP, the substance used to soften the plastic, which has been found to have adverse side effects, particularly to the male reproductive tract.

According to animal testing conducted by Shanna Swan of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, a well-known DEHP research facility, observed side effects have been:
•    Hypospadia, a deformity of the penis
•    Undescended testicles, which indicates
      increased risk of testicular cancer later in life
•    Reduced sperm count and fertility
•    Indications of feminisation

Fortunately, there are many alternatives to using this potentially detrimental product in medical supplies. There are PVC-free bags made of EVA. These are cost-effective and technically competitive with PVC bags. Tubing alternatives are made from silicone or polyurethane are on the market for most medical applications as well. There are also disposable gloves made from nitrile that are also readily available for use.

News in Medical Supplies: Hand-held Device Can Help Treat Migraines

There is a new technology in the works for those who suffer from migraines and don’t want to be treated with prescription drugs.

In a study published last week in The Lancet Neurology, a team of researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that 40 percent of patients were pain-free two hours after using a hand-held transcranial magnetic stimulation device.

According to lead researcher, Richard Lipton, “It's a long-standing, well-established technique, which has already received FDA approval for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes."
Lipton said the goal of this research was to gain FDA approval for the sTMS treatment of migraines. Currently, the FDA only has it approved for depression treatment, brain mapping and measuring brain excitability.

The technology works by penetrating the skull and treating brain tissue with a magnetic field. Lipton chose to try this treatment on migraine sufferers with auras or those who see spots, a gray haze or zig-zag lines when the migraine ensues. Aura suffers represent about 25 percent of all migraine sufferers. Disruption of the aura, which precedes a migraine, would prevent the headache from coming on.

We will most definitely keep our eye on this and other budding advances in medical supplies.
Remember that if you’d like to streamline the process of ordering medical supplies, you can always order online at UnitedMedSupply.com.

Tips to Cut Overhead Costs for Your Medical Facility

If you run a surgery center, nursing home, or private practice, you probably are always looking for effective ways to cut overhead costs. We’ve compiled a brief list of simple ways to cut overhead costs without affecting staff and payroll, by saving on medical supplies.

1) All disposable medical supplies should be ordered in bulk.
Gloves, diapers, bed pads, dressing supplies, all of the things that get frequent use, should be ordered in one large order. By doing this you are saving money and time.

2) Order products online.
Online medical supply retailers are notorious for offering the same products as traditional retailers, at much lower prices. This is primarily because they have low overhead by not to maintain a retail store.

3) Plan ahead.
If you see you’re running low on medical supplies, you should make it a point to order well before your supplies are completely depleted.

4) Try to Conserve Disposables.
There are many reusable products on the market today that have in many cases, proven to better, equally safe, and less costly. Things like exam gloves are a necessity and shouldn’t be a place to cut corners. Things like soft, washable bed pads can be a great way to cut costs in nursing home supplies, while making sure your patients are safe and comfortable.

Spend More Time With Patients By Ordering Medical Supplies Online

As a pediatrician, it’s my primary concern to spend the most amount of time working with patients and their parents.

Little patients need extra attention, so all my focus goes on them. In order to do this, it’s imperative for me that I spent less time doing general office duties like taking inventory and ordering stock. But you can’t run a successful practice without adequate medical supplies.

I knew that in order for me to spend the most amount of time with my patients, and the least amount of time ordering medical supplies, I had to change my way of ordering and take it to the internet. I found United Med Supply and was blown away by not only the selection, but the amazing prices and even better customer service.

Ordering medical supplies online from United Med Supply really freed up a lot of time for me and gave me peace of mind knowing that I was getting exactly what I needed at a low price.

Dealing with vendors and complicated order sheets is now a thing of the past and I can spend more time doing the essential functions of my job and treating my patients.

For more information on how you can order medical supplies for clinics, nursing homes, or even surgery centers, visit UnitedMedSupply.com.