This gives the sales representative the opportunity to see the physicians, and it documents for the hospital the physicians' agreement to use the product. Years ago, our facility threatened to put metal detectors at the exits because so many instruments had disappeared. We've reduced that problem by purchasing disposable suture trays with less expensive instruments. We still have enough left over to return to our vendor, who pays us for any instrument he can reuse. We also must communicate to patients, nurses, and physicians that hospitals no longer can afford to give things away.
Someone always ends up paying.
Nurses are trained to help people, to be generous and giving. For example, a nurse may give a patient a bunch of sterile pads rather than instructing him to go to his local pharmacy. Even those who mean well can put a hospital out of business. To provide staff an opportunity to fulfill their personal need for giving, work out an arrangement with an organization that accepts expired or obsolete supplies for Third World countries. At our facility, we benefit from knowing that these items will go to those in need and we reduce our waste at the same time.