An Effective Process for Making Decisions About Major Operating Room Purchases

Abstract 

In today's economy, it is imperative that nurses exhibit stewardship for their organization's resources and help ensure that purchasing decisions are sound. Regardless of the decision-making method chosen, a formal, consistent review process that evaluates cost, compares products, examines implications, analyzes risk, uses evidence, and includes safety and outcome measures is vital to success. Clinical Quality Value Analysis (CQVA) is a product evaluation platform that can be used to determine whether a proposed product or service will add value to the organization as well as improve patient outcomes. Using CQVA for a proposed product or service is a five-step process: assess, plan, design, implement, and measure/sustain.

Key words: operating room purchasing, product evaluation, surgical supply, cost reduction, physician preference, evidence-based decision making