You're facing expired medical supplies in your inventory. How can you minimize waste and maximize efficiency?

To minimize waste and maximize efficiency with expired medical supplies, healthcare facilities should use advanced inventory management systems, adopt the First-In, First-Out (FIFO) method, and conduct regular audits to identify near-expiry items. Implementing just-in-time ordering and collaborating with suppliers for smaller, frequent deliveries can also help. Training staff on inventory practices and establishing donation programs for near-expiry supplies are additional steps to reduce waste and support communities in need. These strategies collectively enhance inventory management and operational efficiency.

1.-You must identify 20% of your inventory that carries 80% of the total cost. 2.- You have to create a system FIFO, also a reorder point using the ABC system or Economic order quantity 3.- A simple easy-to-control Excel that will turn red 30-45 days before expiration. 4-Exchange program with your suppliers 5-Find out with suppliers, how long will take for you to get a product after ordering (keep inventory with them and not with you) 6-Find out what products you must have (for example emergency crash car) 7-Control Waste.

Facing expired medical supplies in your inventory? Here’s how you can minimize waste and maximize efficiency: 1. Implement Regular Audits: Conduct frequent inventory checks to identify and manage supplies approaching expiration dates. 2. Optimize Inventory Management: Use inventory management systems to track expiration dates and automate reordering processes. 3. Educate Staff: Train staff on proper storage practices and the importance of using supplies before they expire.

In running a clinical high-complexity lab at a hospital, we constantly audited our inventory through paper and digital spreadsheets to accurately monitor the expiration dates of consumable supplies. The use of having both digital and paper records helped to validate any discrepancies from operator error through the documentation process. And, by using both of these processes, we were able to order new supplies based on need, in advance, and prevent the possibility of having shortages or waste. Over time, you begin to understand the time frame available to utilize those consumables. This helps with being financially responsible and elevating the patient care you're tasked with.

It’s helpful to have an updated database of rate of usage of each inventory piece. Set maximum and minimum values to hold and to order, respectively. Approaching expiration date, contact your healthcare network to see if someone else could use these supplies. Sometimes you can trade this supplies for something else that’s useful for you. Review your buying process often to buy accordingly to your current usage rate and not on historical data.

Discuss the situation with your local supplier. Sometimes they are willing to trade unused, intact items for full or partial credit towards your next order. If this is not possible then have discussions with the education and simulation teams in your organisation. They may be able to use the items and this offers the following benefits: The organisation only pays for the items once. Staff are then able to 'train as they fight' with real world equipment, thereby increasing the fidelity of the education experience. Many of the items can be reused for training, thereby reducing the carbon footprint, reducing the need to dispose in landfill and reduced reliance on fossil fuels used on the construction, manufacture and distribution.