what are the two uses of plastic in health care industry
Answers
Healthcare providers are always looking for new and innovative ways to enhance the quality of care patients receive while cutting costs. Re-usable and antimicrobial plastic components are helping medical practitioners overcome adaptive challenges in the healthcare industry. These plastics are advantageous for a variety of reasons, including the benefits listed below.
1) Fewer Infections
Antimicrobial plastic is helping stop the spread of diseases in hospitals all around the world. It can repel or even kill bacteria on surfaces that doctors and patients regularly touch, preventing infections. Antimicrobial plastics can even kill bacteria when surfaces aren’t cleaned on a regular basis. This innovative new technology is in its infancy but it has the potential to help medical professionals and patients stay healthy longer.
2) New Medical Devices
Plastics are allowing engineers, doctors and other medical practitioners to develop new medical devices that improve patients’ lives. Whether it's enhanced pacemakers, joint replacement devices, or stents, plastics are enhancing the quality of care patients receive. Also, plastics are being used to replace metal instruments and medical devices, because plastics can be molded into more intricate shapes and come with a lower cost of production. Plastic components are a viable alternative to metallic parts and devices that can wear out prematurely and cause patients discomfort or pain.
3) Cost Savings
Sterile and re-usable plastics are saving various stakeholders in the medical industry money, from the manufacturers of medical devices all the way to patients in hospitals. Plastic devices are cheaper to produce and easier to replace. The savings are benefiting everyone involved in the patient care cycle. This is especially true in the case of re-usable plastics, which have longer useful lives compared to single-use metal devices, or other medical products made from lesser materials.
4) Environmental Protection
Sustainable medical practices are growing and re-usable plastics are keeping hazardous materials out of landfills, protecting the environment. Plastics are also keeping medical devices and instruments in service longer and, in some instances, are reducing the number of product failures attributable to corrosion. While metallic devices wear out due to friction and organics interfering with their functionality, plastics can withstand tough stresses and last longer, due to their structural integrity and malleability. This translates to a more eco-friendly approach to medicine.