Rush University Medical Center redefines recycling
Shravan Sarvepalli
Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: Pulse
Rush University Medical Center is taking steps to confront America's reputation for producing large amounts of unused waste products. U.S. Hospitals produce an estimated 2,000 tons of unused, surplus medical supplies of waste every year. And it takes $200 million to make equipment that is chucked out without even being opened.
These surplus items are ordered as a cautionary measure, to keep from running out of supplies during a surgery. Medical students at Rush started Rush REMEDY-a program that seeks to collect surplus items and ship them to hospitals in developing countries.
"These materials that normally would be incinerated are being put to good use. We are collecting things in such a fashion that there is no risk of infection," said David Ansell, MD, chief medical officer and faculty adviser for Rush REMEDY.
The program is exceptional in that it collectively benefits two groups-American hospitals and those in the developing world. "This waste represents much more than an unnecessary burden to landfills or a financial loss incurred by hospitals," said Ansell.
"When viewed in contrast to the severe shortages of medical and surgical supplies for hospitals in developing nations, this excess illustrates the need for a nation-wide system of material recovery and reuse," said Ansell.
This means that Rush REMEDY needs to connect itself with hospitals halfway across the world. Despite the seeming complexity of the task, Rush Remedy benefits from the national coordinator organization, Remedy Inc.
William H. Rosenblatt M.D., a professor at Yale University, first came up with the concept of Recovered Medical Equipment for the Developing World (REMEDY) back in 1991. Since then, several Remedy-type grassroots organizations opened throughout the nation.
On a local level, volunteers and staff throughout the hospital accomplish the task.
"We collect about 2,000 pounds of unused medical supplies every month and ship them in 40-foot containers to clinics and hospitals throughout the world," said Rebecca Free, a third year Rush medical student and one of the program's founders.
Volunteers take pride in their work with Rush REMEDY.
"Our mission is to promote medical supply recovery and donation in Chicago because it's not only good for the environment and cuts hospital costs dramatically, but it helps those in need," said Free.
Although the program only began in Jaunary 2008, it is quickly growing. It already succeeded in donating 12,000 lbs. of equipment to hospitals throughout the world.
"Word is spreading at Rush, so the unused medical supplies we are collecting also are being provided to Rush physicians and residents going on international medical missionary trips," said Free.
These surplus items are ordered as a cautionary measure, to keep from running out of supplies during a surgery. Medical students at Rush started Rush REMEDY-a program that seeks to collect surplus items and ship them to hospitals in developing countries.
"These materials that normally would be incinerated are being put to good use. We are collecting things in such a fashion that there is no risk of infection," said David Ansell, MD, chief medical officer and faculty adviser for Rush REMEDY.
The program is exceptional in that it collectively benefits two groups-American hospitals and those in the developing world. "This waste represents much more than an unnecessary burden to landfills or a financial loss incurred by hospitals," said Ansell.
"When viewed in contrast to the severe shortages of medical and surgical supplies for hospitals in developing nations, this excess illustrates the need for a nation-wide system of material recovery and reuse," said Ansell.
This means that Rush REMEDY needs to connect itself with hospitals halfway across the world. Despite the seeming complexity of the task, Rush Remedy benefits from the national coordinator organization, Remedy Inc.
William H. Rosenblatt M.D., a professor at Yale University, first came up with the concept of Recovered Medical Equipment for the Developing World (REMEDY) back in 1991. Since then, several Remedy-type grassroots organizations opened throughout the nation.
On a local level, volunteers and staff throughout the hospital accomplish the task.
"We collect about 2,000 pounds of unused medical supplies every month and ship them in 40-foot containers to clinics and hospitals throughout the world," said Rebecca Free, a third year Rush medical student and one of the program's founders.
Volunteers take pride in their work with Rush REMEDY.
"Our mission is to promote medical supply recovery and donation in Chicago because it's not only good for the environment and cuts hospital costs dramatically, but it helps those in need," said Free.
Although the program only began in Jaunary 2008, it is quickly growing. It already succeeded in donating 12,000 lbs. of equipment to hospitals throughout the world.
"Word is spreading at Rush, so the unused medical supplies we are collecting also are being provided to Rush physicians and residents going on international medical missionary trips," said Free.
Be the first to comment on this story