Powered by Blogger.

The Role Of Medical Supply In Soundness Of Health System

By Eugenia Dickerson


The healthcare materials that are not durable in nature and are usually disposable after use or after a short duration are usually referred to as medical supply materials. They include all materials ordered and prescribed by physicians for primary use in health purpose. This category covers the ostomy supplies, oxygen, diabetic and catheters in addition to all other supplies that cannot be used in absence of an injury or illness.

In most of the health journals, medical supply is agreed to consist of health utilities that do not last long by nature. They are either disposed after a single use or expires after a short duration. It is a category of materials that physicians usually order or prescribe for a patient and cannot be shared. Their use cannot be in absence of injury or illness and are the primary health equipment and medicines. They are meant to influence the health of the patient in a positive manner but can also do the exact opposite, for this reason, most of them are not usable in a repetitive manner.

For obvious reasons, the materials in the category of medical supply must be given serious considerations and priority by all sectors that are concerned. One major reason is because of the role these materials have in patient health.

While the hospitals and other health providers might put in place all the necessary steps to ensure that their environment and treatment procedures are completely secure, the efforts are sometimes in vain particularly if the utilizes supplied to them are defective or are below the required standards. The storage procedures must also be effective as most of these materials are highly sensitive to environmental conditions such light, moisture, temperature and even pressure.

Health acquired conditions is a category of any form of ailment, injury or infection acquired by a patient under health facility care. In other words, a patient who comes to seek treatment for something unrelated acquires a new condition in the process of treatment. Falling and breaking a bone or two in the medical facility is an example. Other common infections and conditions that are easily acquired in this manner includes urinary tract infections associated with catheter, blood infections associated with central line, ventilator related pneumonia and even pressure ulcers among many others.

Such infections and injuries are not limited to the patients only, healthcare providers and their support staff too becomes victims when using defective utilities. There are reports where physicians get injured and sometimes infected with life threatening diseases when administering treatment. The cleaners too handle sharp objects and other infected materials.

The protective devices that are mostly employed include disinfectants, gloves, protective coats and sometimes masks. The technology has however improved the situation as it is now possible to examine the effectiveness of most of these utilities before they are brought to the actual use. Most utilities and other equipment can always be monitored in terms of performance and the corrective measures taken before the situation deteriorates.

It however still remains the sole responsibility of the manufacturers and suppliers of the medical supply equipment, medicines and other related chemicals to ensure that such items are best of quality. The regulatory bodies on the other hand must tighten laws and regulations and double their effort to ensure the health sector remains risk free.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment