Choosing Between Disposable And Reusable Patient Gowns

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One of the concerns facing medical facilities such as hospitals and assisted living centers is the question of disposable or reusable patient gowns. Like any other discussion, people advocate both sides of the argument. There are several variables that impact the decision process. Here are some of the bigger items that should be considered when making this choice.


Accurately Estimating All Costs

Some healthcare experts feel that disposables are the better choice every time because the items only have the purchase price as a cost. However, there are several other costs associated with disposables. First and foremost is the price to remove and properly dispose of the patient gowns once they have been used. For some institutions, it may be wise to store an extra supply of gowns, thus leading to a warehouse or storage fee. There are also liability costs to consider in the event that a patient receives a used disposable on accident.

Environmentally Friendly

Many types of organizations are focused on adopting practices that are friendly to the ...
... environment. Reducing use of energy, recycling and even using recycled materials are becoming more commonplace. Disposable patient gowns are used for one patient and then thrown away. Over the course of a year this results in tons of discarded items that ends up in landfills. The waste can possibly end up in groundwater leading to water contamination.

On the other hand, garments that are reusable require energy and water for proper laundry. Thankfully, technology has improved to make this process much more efficient. Typical equipment that is currently used in healthcare laundry service has the ability to wash linens as well as recycle the water for multiple uses.

Safety for the Staff and Patients

The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has stated that patient gowns and surgical gowns must be appropriate for creating a barrier against bacteria infections as well as pathogens carried by blood. Studies have indicated that reusable gowns, if laundered correctly, are more effective than disposables in protecting against the bacteria and pathogens. Reusables have been shown to be as much as 70% more effective.

This feat is accomplished through the use of commercial healthcare laundry services. These companies incorporate the latest chemicals designed to clean and sanitize the garments and choose best equipment to monitor the entire cleaning process. With the proper use of temperatures and drying processes, reusable gowns can be sufficiently cleaned and maintained for a significant length of time.

Choosing the right patient gowns and surgical gowns is a primary concern for most medical facilities. Choosing the best option should not be made on dollars alone but on the whole impact of the decision.

Larry Chandler is a freelance writer for ImageFirst a healthcare laundry service offering patient gowns and surgical gowns. You can see more about their services at Imagefirst.com.