Definition of medical consumables: Medical consumables are consumable devices and equipment used for diagnosis, treatment, health care, rehabilitation, etc. There is no detailed classification system for them in China.
(1) Medical: This item is used for medical purposes such as diagnosis, treatment, health care, and rehabilitation.
(2) Consumable: This item is a consumable material.
Medical devices refer to instruments, equipment, appliances, in vitro diagnostic reagents and calibrators, materials, and other similar or related items that are used directly or indirectly on the human body, including the necessary computer software. Medical devices include medical equipment and medical consumables.
High-value consumables generally have a higher value, usually greater than or equal to 1000 yuan, although some may be less than 1000 yuan. These are defined by hospitals themselves, but any consumable that is implanted or intervened in the human body is definitely a high-value consumable.
Due to their high price, high-value consumables are generally managed using a VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory) approach. Simply put, this is consignment or "zero inventory" management; the items are kept at the hospital, but belong to the supplier. The hospital only acquires ownership after the items are used.
For some special consumables, there is also a surgical observation model. What is surgical observation? For example, some interventional consumables have numerous specifications and models. Doctors may not know their specific needs before surgery, so all consumables need to be prepared in advance for unforeseen circumstances.
Surgical observation is most common in interventional surgeries, such as cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeries. It is less common in other types of surgeries.
As the name suggests, low-value consumables are those with lower prices. They are classified into two categories: low-value non-billed and low-value billed consumables.
There are two main management methods for low-value consumables. One is fixed-quantity package management, where consumables of the same specification are packaged together and coded, such as a pack of masks. The second type is surgical kit management. Literally, this involves packaging and coded all consumables needed for a single procedure in maximum quantity. This surgical kit may contain high-value consumables. These high-value consumables will also be labeled with a unique barcode.
Besides high-value and low-value consumables, there are also reagents and logistical supplies.
The reagents here mainly refer to in vitro diagnostic (IVD) reagents, primarily used in departments such as laboratory medicine, pathology, microscopy, and nuclear medicine. Their value varies, and the main storage method is refrigeration and freezing in cold storage. Because IVD reagents are easily affected by external factors, temperature, humidity, and expiration dates are crucial indicators. These indicators affect the quality of the reagents, thus affecting test results. Transportation requires cold chain logistics and must comply with national Good Supply Practice (GSP) regulations.