Frequently Asked Questions

Quality and Safety

But it says ‘Single-use?’

In fact, a 2008 US government study found that:

"a device may be labeled as single-use because the manufacturer believes that it cannot be safely and reliably used more than once, or because the manufacturer chooses not to conduct the studies needed to demonstrate that the device can be labeled as reusable"

Many devices are labelled Single-use because the manufacturer chooses not to validate or distribute cleaning instructions to hospitals.
They can be safely re-used following validated cleaning & inspection processes.

Medsalv, as the legal manufacturer of all devices it reprocesses, carries out the studies and validation required to return each device to the market.

Medsalv maintains all documentation and regulatory registrations expected of a manufacturer and is independently ISO accredited.

Does Medsalv provide a warranty for reprocessed devices?

Medsalv functionally tests every device before returning it to your hospital. This 100% quality assurance guarantees all devices returned to the hospital are equivalent in all areas to a new device. Medsalv warrants that all reprocessed devices delivered to your hospital for re-use perform to original equipment manufacturer specifications.

How are devices collected, cleaned, and made safe for re-use?

Medsalv outfits your hospital with collection containers in suitable hospital areas and provides education to staff collecting devices.

Medsalv maintains the responsibility of pick-up, reprocessing, and returning devices to the facility.

Recovered devices undergo a thorough initial inspection, before being passed through to cleaning and further inspection.

Cleaning eliminates bio-burden and enhances appearance before devices are appropriately disinfected. Clean devices are sorted and receive suitable disinfection or sterilization as appropriate.

Throughout and between each process, multiple inspections ensure that reprocessed devices are of equivalent quality to a new device.

How does Medsalv determine or track the number of times a device has been re-used?

Unique device identification and tracking follow every device collected for reprocessing. Data is available in real-time and is presented to your hospital each quarter, in an easy to interpret savings report.

The report details overall savings, waste elimination, and resource efficiency.

How does the quality of a reprocessed device compare to that of a new device?

Medsalv’s number one priority is patient safety, and so every device is individually subjected to multiple inspections (new devices are typically only batch inspected).

We provide the highest quality product, at least equivalent in quality to the OEM, but additionally uniquely tracked through every process.

Do you outsource any reprocessing to other companies?

No. Patient safety and product quality are Medsalv’s top priorities. All aspects of device reprocessing are controlled and completed in-house at our dedicated local facilities.

Sustainability and Savings

How much can your hospital expect to save by reprocessing single-use medical devices with Medsalv?

Hospitals can expect to pay between 40 and 75% of the new device price, for a reprocessed device, depending on the device.
Waste savings from landfill range from 80 to 100% of target devices, with end of life devices being recycled

What happens to devices once they can no longer be reprocessed?

Devices that fail Medsalv's strict quality standards are broken apart into constituent materials, and recycled where possible.

Medsalv is continually pursuing avenues for re-use and recycling of these devices, particularly for plastic materials.

Operational Considerations

What input will be required from my hospital’s staff

Medsalv handles every aspect of reprocessing programs.

This includes providing staff education, device collection, counting, sorting, cleaning and re-delivery of the devices to the hospital.

All target devices are placed into re-usable Medsalv collection containers, conveniently located where devices would normally be discarded.

How long until I can get my devices back again?

Devices can be reprocessed in less than 2 working days. Device delivery times vary depending on the distance of your hospital from our plant.

Depending on the devices you use, we may have stock of the devices already available before you send devices to us due to the number we have collected from other hospitals.