EP lab reprocessing has come a long way in 2018, and Innovative Health would like to thank the growing number of EP labs across the country who take advantage of Innovative Health’s program to increase their EP lab savings. We continue to submit and receive clearances from FDA to reprocess more and more devices in the EP lab; in fact, Innovative Health currently has no fewer than 6 submissions under review, representing future 6-figure savings opportunity growth for EP labs on an annual basis.
In recent years, EP lab reprocessing savings have been bogged down by manufacturer resistance to labs reprocessing sensor-enabled and imaging catheters – precisely the catheters that represent by far the largest savings opportunity for EP labs. In our Q1 Newsletter (link), you can read how EP labs with minimal reprocessing programs due to pressure from the manufacturer can often triple or quadruple their savings by reprocessing these more expensive device types.
The challenge is manufacturers creating uncertainty about the safety of FDA cleared reprocessed devices, threatening price increases, and refusing to provide mapping support for EP cases – if EP labs suggest that they might start reprocessing these devices. As a result, some EP labs lose $300,000-$400,000 per year in reprocessing savings.
However, 2019 has started with the great news that more and more EP labs elect to have a directed conversation with manufacturer reps to establish more control of device utilization and insist on using reprocessed catheters – even the more expensive ones that cause manufacturers to threaten punishment! I believe it is the sheer magnitude of lost savings that make EP lab management take action: It is simply not responsible for the EP lab to forego hundreds of thousands in savings, just because the manufacturer acts up over losing what is really an insignificant portion of its profits.
Over the following months, Innovative Health will be sharing success stories of EP labs that have successfully added sensor-enabled and imaging catheters to their reprocessing programs – without suffering clinical, operational or economic consequences. EP labs CAN, in fact, realize the potential of EP reprocessing – by better managing vendor relations.
Some of these labs go even further and reduce or even remove dependency on the manufacturer for supporting their mapping equipment: More and more labs make the investment in training their own techs, so that scheduling doesn’t depend on the manufacturer rep’s availability; - and so that the reprocessing program can function to its fullest potential.
Congratulations to EP labs that have taken the step to build out their reprocessing programs! It is working. For those who have not taken this step yet - Innovative Health can help assessing competency gaps and navigate vendor relations.