NOVARE operates an Expired Medical Supply and Equipment HUB from its operations in Butte, Montana.   Operating from a 3,200 square-foot warehouse, NOVARE collects expired medical supplies and some used equipment that can be repurposed and used in training in medical schools, nursing programs, simulation training centers, for EMS, and for the US Military.    

 

The vast majority of medical supplies manufactured for use in medical care have an expiration date after which the products cannot be used for patient care.   Once the medical supplies reach their expiration date, they must be disposed of. According to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, obsolete inventory, expired medical supplies, and outdated equipment cost the healthcare system in the US billions annually.  And, a John Hopkins report, focused only on operating rooms in major hospitals, found that collectively, their hospitals throw away at least $15 million in unused surgical supplies every year.   While some of these obsolete and expired medical supplies are sent to third-world countries, most of these supplies are sent to landfills.   Disposing of obsolete and expired medical supplies and materials presents both economic and environmental concerns.   

 

NOVARE recognizes that some of these expired medical supplies can be repurposed for use in training at colleges and universities, simulation training centers, for EMS training, and for US Military training.  Since the expired medical supplies are not being used on actual patients, they are perfectly suited for use in training.   

 

Market Demand

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Simulation training centers, colleges and universities, EMS, and the US Military all conduct extensive medical training where live patients are not being treated.   Most of this training occurs in simulation training settings.   Simulation training requires realistic and up-to-date medical supplies and equipment that closely mimic real clinical settings.  The demand for realistic supplies and equipment is substantial and continues to grow rapidly.

 

Currently, there are 728 accredited simulation training centers located in the US and many more around the world.   These centers are predominately in colleges and universities and in major medical centers.   While some expired medical supplies are utilized in simulation centers, most of the training supplies used in these training centers are purchased at full cost. Budget constraints can limit a center’s ability to provide the highest quality of training which requires the latest equipment and supplies.

 

By repurposing obsolete and expired medical supplies that would otherwise be discarded, Novare offers important solutions

 

Environmental Benefits: NOVARE’s efforts to recycle, collect, and redistribute obsolete and expired medical supplies conserves resources and reduces the volume of waste entering our landfills. 

 

Improved Training Quality: Healthcare training centers will see significant cost savings by purchasing repurposed medical supplies at lower prices than having to buy the same new supplies at full price. This cost-effective approach can also expand the accessibility of training programs.