Enhancing Resurrection Practices for Unusable Surgical Inventory Items at District General Hospital, Negombo

Background: Effective management and maintenance of surgical inventory items are vital for ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services and optimizing resource utilization in hospitals. In resource-poor settings where financial and technical constraints limit the availability of new equipment, enhancing resurrection practices plays a critical role in sustaining healthcare delivery and maximizing existing resources.
Objective: The primary aim of this study was to enhance the resurrection practices of selected surgical inventory items at  District General Hospital (DGH) Negombo through tailored interventions and involvement of volunteer technical support.
Methods: This implementation science study with pre- and post-assessments conducted at DGH Negombo from August 2022 to November 2023 focused on collaborating with unit heads managing surgical inventory items and condemned items identified by the Biomedical Engineering Division. Data collection involved key informant interviews to gather qualitative insights, self-administered questionnaires distributed to unit heads for quantitative data on repair processes, and a desk review of hospital records to identify frequently malfunctioning items. Statistical analysis included content analysis for qualitative data and descriptive statistics for quantitative data, helping to prioritize items for repair based on urgency and feasibility.
Results: Pre-intervention assessments highlighted several inefficiencies including prolonged repair times, poor coordination with the Biomedical Engineering Division, and inadequate infrastructure for managing surgical inventory items. Post-intervention evaluations demonstrated marked improvements, with repair times decreasing by 32%, enhanced coordination with Biomedical Engineering units, and increased stakeholder satisfaction, as indicated by the higher SAQ scores. Additionally, 60% of condemned multipara monitors, 76% of oxygen regulators, and 78% of suction apparatus were successfully restored, underscoring significant efficiency gains in equipment availability and resource utilization.
Conclusion and Recommendations: The tailored interventions implemented during this study significantly improved efficiency and effectiveness in managing surgical inventory items at DGH Negombo, enhancing equipment availability, and achieving cost savings. Similar approaches emphasizing systematic assessments, stakeholder collaboration, and volunteer technical support are recommended for sustainable improvements in comparable healthcare settings.