Pre-Packaged Surgery Kits Find Favor
Refractive "procedure packs" offer consistency while creating efficiencies that save time and money.
BY JERRY HELZNER, SENIOR EDITOR

You're a practice administrator and here are your choices: You can order the 15 or more items normally used in a laser vision correction procedure individually, and from several different suppliers, or you can obtain the supplies each surgeon wants for any type of procedure, custom-packed in exactly the way the surgeon wants them.

For an increasing number of practices, the choice is clear. Today, so-called "procedure packs" of refractive surgery supplies offer the same convenience and simplicity that customized packs of cataract surgery supplies have provided for years. In this article, I'll explain why.

Packs Ensure Consistency

"Our three refractive surgeons have been using the packs since 1998," says Carol Schoenfelder, R.N., CRNO, COE, practice administrator of Physicians Eye Surgery Center in Everett, Wash. "We use only one manufacturer, which ensures that the products are very consistent and reliable. They work the same way each and every time, which enables the procedures to go smoothly."

Schoenfelder says using the same supplies all the time helps to eliminate unanticipated problems.

"Just a difference in the glue another manufacturer uses can affect the quality of the draping," she notes.

John Lavin, regional executive director for two TLC Laser Eye Centers, one in Connecticut and another in White Plains, N.Y., says his eight refractive surgeons have been enthusiastic users of procedure packs for the past 2 years. Lavin orders in both six-procedure and single-procedure packs, with a selection of supplies that can be used in performing a PRK, LASIK or LASEK procedure.

"With the packs we achieve efficiencies in several areas," says Lavin. "We minimize waste because we're able to order in the exact quantities that our surgeons use. For example, one surgeon may prefer to have more gauze pads available, while another may want something different. With the packs, we can have whatever our surgeons request."

In addition, Lavin says ordering procedure packs is quick and simple because there's no need to deal with multiple vendors. "We're on auto-ship, which means our vendor knows approximately how many procedures we do each month so they automatically ship what we need. We only need to contact the vendor if there's going to be any variation from our normal number of cases."

Preparing surgical rooms between cases is also more efficient with these packs. "Everything is in one kit," says Lavin. "We open it up and we're ready to go with the next case."

Saving Money and Time

Both Lavin and Schoenfelder say they achieve cost-savings by dealing with one vendor and negotiating volume discounts. They both obtain their supplies in the form of Alcon Custom Paks, but other companies will also provide refractive surgical supplies in procedure packs.

"We order by the case, with enough supplies for 30 procedures," says Schoenfelder. "We pull one pack per procedure. We order bilateral packs for bilateral procedures and some unilateral packs for procedures involving a single eye. We use the same type of pack for PRK, LASIK and LASEK."

Though some supplies in a procedure pack could be re-used for additional procedures, Schoenfelder says the surgeons in her center open up a new pack for each patient.

"It's another way to ensure sterility," she notes.

"Creating a level of predictability in refractive surgery means a lot to all surgeons and their staff members," concludes Lavin. "Anything that can be done to make things run smoothly helps immensely. Bottom line, it's all about supporting the surgeon to deliver the highest-quality patient care."