Being Green with Reusable Barrier Fabrics

Presented by: Kylie Summers & Kevin Prasad

Reusable Barrier Fabric

• HealthShare Linen Services are currently

introducing innovative textile products (RBF). • Items include Drapes, Gowns and Wraps

What is Reusable Barrier Fabric

• It is a fabric woven from a micro filament polyester. • The construction allows air to move through the

fabric.

What is Reusable Barrier Fabric

Why Look to Change?

• The use of poly/cotton theatre linen was used mainly to stop skin flora.

• Ensuring adequate protection is a major Work Health & Safety issue.

Why the colour Green?

• Early Operating Theatre Linen and garments were white.

• HealthShare’s Reusable Barrier Fabric remains the colour green.

• Green is the opposite of red on the colour wheel.

Why the colour Green?

Why the colour Green?

• In the operating room, it is an expectation to be looking at blood for extended periods of time.

• So we will continue to provide green coloured gowns, drapes and wraps.

Reusable Barrier fabric • The 3 key factors that reusable barrier fabric

addresses: Performance Cost Environmental

• Surgical textiles must address all of these key factors.

PERFORMANCE

• RBF uses a micro fibre that is tightly woven into a fabric, designed to repel fluid.

• RBF allows steam to pass through the fabric.

• RBF drapeability is similar to poly/cotton linen.

PERFORMANCE

• RBF is up to seven (7) times stronger than single use.

• RBF does not lint, unlike poly/cotton linen and single use.

• RBF drapes, gowns and wraps are able to be tracked and traced by RFID.

PERFORMANCE

COST

• The purchase price is not the only consideration regarding cost, we need to consider:

Storage – Inventory costs Landfill – Disposal costs Transport costs

COST

Procurement costs Productivity savings within the theatres

• The “true cost” of single use is about twice that of

RBF. • All of the above enable significant savings for the

health system.

ENVIRONMENTAL

• Environmental impact of disposal

• For a single use product to break down effectively

RBF Vs Polyester/ Cotton Linen

Poly/cotton linen allow strike through. RBF provides protection from strike through. Many layers of poly/cotton drapes required to

provide protection One layer of RBF equals 4 layers of poly/cotton.

RBF Vs Polyester/ Cotton Linen

No plastic required under RBF drapes when setting up trolley or placing drapes on patient.

Poly/cotton linen drapes require towel clips. RBF drapes are secured onto patient with

hypoallergenic water soluble tape.

RBF Vs Polyester/ Cotton Linen

Poly/cotton linen lint's, point of possible infection. RBF is made of microfilament polyester and does

not lint. RBF drapes, gowns and wraps are able to be

tracked and traced by Radio Frequency Identification chips.

RBF Vs Polyester/ Cotton Linen

With poly/cotton items, draping had to be done with head and foot drapes to ensure drapes did not slip.

Draping can be done aseptically as the side drape can be placed on first and secured.

RBF Vs Polyester/ Cotton Linen

Drape packs are smaller as less RBF drapes are

required than poly/cotton drapes. Customers can still access feeder packs. Drape and gown packs are user friendly.

RBF Vs Single Use • Single use has become the alternative product of

choice. • The true cost of single use is often not calculated

correctly and may not include • Handling costs. • Environmental impact. • The cost of space. • The cost of storing.

RBF Vs Single Use

Customer’s must purchase in carton quantities. Single use has a memory and does not drape

easily. An order has to be placed each time single use is

required.

RBF Vs Single Use

Supply chain costs.

Single use tears easily.

Reusable Barrier Fabric Solution's

RBF and single use must comply to the European (EN 13795) and Australian Standards (AUS/NZ 3789.8 – 1997).

RBF drapes can be used comfortably with single use products.

Reusable Barrier Fabric Solution's

RBF reduces the total cost for the operating theatres.

RBF reduces the impact on the environment. There is a place for both single use and RBF in the

operating theatre.

Reusable Barrier Fabrics Any Further Questions? Please visit our display

We are located booth # 71