Managing leaner instruments safely

摘要

The rapid pace of change and the high cost of surgical instruments have led institutions to seek alternatives to buying instruments outright. As a result, the use of loaner instruments has become widespread over the past several years. Services that use complex instrumentation, such as orthopedic surgery, are among those that use the most loaner instruments. These instruments are provided by an outside (facility-approved) source, either for one surgery or on a consignment basis. Loaner instruments frequently are brought in by vendors while the facility's instruments are being repaired, or based on a surgeon's request.