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The Tariff Tipping Point: Why Hospitals Need to Rethink Disposables—Now
The healthcare industry is facing a pivotal decision. With new tariffs looming on Chinese imports—including medical supplies like disposable gowns—U.S. hospitals are about to see a steep climb in costs. Combined with ongoing supply chain instability and increased pressure to meet sustainability goals, it’s clear: sticking with disposables is no longer a safe or smart strategy.
One of the biggest pain points? Single-use disposable gowns, which are primarily sourced from Asia. If you're still relying on them, it’s time to ask: what’s your plan when prices spike and inventory dries up?
April 03, 2025
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Hannah Abbott
Disposable versus reusable medical gowns: A performance comparison, by Meredith McQuerry, PhD, Elizabeth Easter, PhD, and Alex Cao, BSc
A major challenge of the CDC's recommendation to adopt reusable gowns during surge capacity is that cloth gowns have a much lower market share than disposable gowns in US health care. Presently, disposable gowns make up at least 80% of the isolation gown market (Jenkins, 2018). However, this market share trend is expected to change over time in favor of reusable gowns. Especially as the protection of disposable gowns has been called into question after recent epidemics such as the Ebola crisis of 2014 which claimed the lives of over 11,000 people, including 500 health care personnel. Following this crisis, in 2016 it was found that some medical gowns on the market were defective, allowing fluids to leak through, ultimately infecting surgeons and nurses in contact with infected patients.
November 26, 2024
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Hannah Abbott
The Insidious Dangers of Disposable Isolation Gowns—and How to Address Them. Written by Karen Haberland, Senior Project Officer.
Isolation gowns are a longstanding infection control tool across hospital settings. These garments are intended to safeguard patients and clinicians by preventing the spread of disease-causing microorganisms. But do today’s disposable gowns provide the degree of protection healthcare workers assume? Not necessarily.
November 26, 2024
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Hannah Abbott
Switching from disposable to reusable PPE, Written for the BMJ
Sustainable sourcing, use, and disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) can help healthcare providers reduce the environmental impacts of their work. In this article we review supporting evidence and provide guidance for healthcare institutions to adopt reusable forms of PPE as safe, cost saving, and sustainable alternatives to single use disposables.
November 26, 2024
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Hannah Abbott
Environmental considerations in the selection of isolation gowns: A life cycle assessment of reusable and disposable alternatives. Written by Michael Overcash, PhD, Eric Vollola, BSc, and Evan Griffing, PhD.
Isolation gowns serve a critical role in infection control by protecting healthcare workers, visitors, and patients from the transfer of microorganisms and body fluids. The decision of whether to use a reusable or disposable garment system is a selection process based on factors including sustainability, barrier effectiveness, cost, and comfort. Environmental sustainability is increasingly being used in the decision-making process. Life cycle assessment is the most comprehensive and widely used tool used to evaluate environmental performance.
November 26, 2024
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Hannah Abbott
Evaluation of the physical performance of disposable isolation gowns. Written by Selcen Kilinc-Balci, PhD.
The threat of emerging infectious diseases has highlighted the need for effective gowns to protect health care workers and patients. Although studies identified end user issues with the physical performance of gowns, the literature that evaluates the performance is scarce. This paper represents 1 of the first efforts to investigate the physical performance of a substantial set of isolation gown models in the marketplace.
November 26, 2024
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Hannah Abbott
Investigation of the barrier performance of disposable isolation gowns. Written by Selcen Kilinc-Balci, PhD.
Recent epidemics and pandemics highlighted the need for effective personal protective equipment, including isolation gowns. The most critical property of an isolation gown is its ability to keep liquids and viruses from passing through the gown. Liquid and viral barrier penetration can be measured using laboratory test methods. Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) PB70 standard defines isolation gown barrier performance levels and requirements. In this study, 22 disposable isolation gown models from 6 manufacturers were tested for liquid and viral penetration resistance.
November 26, 2024
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Hannah Abbott
"One and Done? Building a Secure Supply Chain" on Power Supply Podcast
The last couple of years have brought significant challenges in procurement of routine medical supplies with ongoing backorders, allocations and product substitutions - how can the healthcare supply chain work to build resiliency and security with strategic initiatives? After years of the healthcare industry transitioning to single-use products, many healthcare supply chains are now evaluating and moving back to reusable products as a long term solution. For instance, reusable gowns can be a reliable option to replace disposable items with more robust and better quality products that users feel more comfortable wearing. Patti Hoch discusses the benefits of these reusable products with Hays Waldrop, Garry Skinner and Justin Poulin on this episode of Power Supply, highlighting a way to build supply chain security that also provides some significant cost savings AND reduces excess waste from healthcare operations. With a Win, Win, Win, you don't want to miss this episode!
November 09, 2022
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Hannah Abbott
La Forma Medical's Commitment to Sustainability
At La Forma Medical our mission is to provide high performance reusable medical products that shrink our customer’s carbon footprint. We believe in the importance of sustainability in the medical industry through reusable performance products. We have big goals at La Forma Medical and we’re sticking to them.
November 08, 2022
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Hannah Abbott
ECRI Names Disposable Gowns one of its Top Ten Technology Hazards of 2022
Disposable Hospital Gowns Could Expose Health Workers to Infection
Widely used gowns, intended to protect people, can let too much liquid seep through, new studies suggest. Disposable gowns designed to deflect the splatter of bodily fluids, used in thousands of U.S. hospitals, have underperformed in recent and ongoing laboratory tests and may fall short of safety standards, leaving health care workers with a greater risk of infection than advertised.
July 15, 2022
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Hannah Abbott
Disposable Versus Reusable Medical Gowns: A Performance Comparison
This research evaluated the performance of disposable versus reusable medical gowns by assessing their ability to provide adequate protection across their expected service lifespan. Level I, II, and III gowns were tested for water resistance and hydrostatic pressure, along with other durability assessments (breaking, tear, and seam strength, pilling resistance, dimensional stability, and air permeability, colorfastness, and fabric hand) per standard test methods.
July 08, 2022
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Hannah Abbott
Reusable Gowns Become Industry Standard
At La Forma Medical our mission is to provide high performance reusable medical products that shrink our customer’s carbon footprint and provide substantial cost savings. We believe in the importance of sustainability in the medical industry. Yet, all too often, the sustainable options available aren’t always cost effective. That’s why we’ve worked hard to offer a product that not only helps your healthcare system meet its goals, but also provides long-term cost savings.
June 29, 2022
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Kellen Brink
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