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THE PURPOSE OF MERCIMERCI ( Medical Equipment Recovery of Clean Inventory ) is a project, which was founded in 1991 at the University of Virginia Health Science Center operating room. It took Helen French RN, BSN, from 1991 to 1992 to perform audits, to research waste management issues, and to prepare educational in-services in order to change the culture of the operating room staff in regard to medical waste management while ensuring high standards of quality assurance. MERCI became an official UVA / RRR program in April of 1996. MERCI was founded and coordinated by Helen French RN, BSN a Clinician #lll at the UVA Health Science Center Operating Room from 1991 - 12/2007. Even today the program encompasses the operating room, central supply, and countless other units and departments throughout the 600 bed hospital and the University which are eager to do something good for humanity. The capturing, processing and diversion of "clean medical supplies" actually began in August of 1992. Since August of 1992, MERCI has unofficially captured, processed, diverted and accepted 1,000,000+ pounds ( 500+ tons / $108 million value )* of clean, no patient contact medical supplies, which would had been originally diverted into the hospital waste stream and thus incinerated / steam sterilized, and / or land-filled. Many success stories are also realized through intensive networking for missions' behalf. The tonnage of medical supplies received from the “networking” aspect and donated to NGOs exceeds 500 tons. An additional 50 tons has been diverted to small missions groups and to UVA research labs. One day a week, Helen, with several volunteers, processed the clean, no patient contact items. From August of 1992 to 1995 all processing was done on her own time three to four times a week after work and on weekends. Many supplies, which are diverted to her from the hospital, are samples and deleted and out of date items. All supplies are thoughtfully separated into varied categories of recipients: the Virginia State Wildlife Center, to missions, to surgeons’ personal missions trips, to research labs and etc. Also, MERCI has become an interesting waste stream audit, which has produced many cost saving ideas and changes in material management decisions and practices. MERCI has become "a total waste management program" in the UVA Health Science Operating Room. The savings for the hospital are abundant. However, one can see that the humanitarian spirit is the spark for the success of the project. Peoples faces light up when they realize that their efforts are helping someone in need. MERCI has also become partners with the UVA medical students as well as UVA nursing students and with other small mission endeavors which receive clean medical supplies for their "mission" trips. The program had not cost the hospital any money until July of 1995 when it began paying a one day’s nurse's salary for one nurse ( a part time RRR person now helps on the processing day ). All necessary MERCI networking, data collection, letter writing and presentations are done on Helen’s day off. MERCI can easily be replicated by any hospital but Helen emphasizes that the program should be coordinated by an operating room nurse. The MERCI MODEL is safe, replicable, and cost efficient. The
MERCI MODEL enables the hospital to participate in the GREEN movement and in
environmental responsibility since the
program decreases carbon monoxide emissions. Helen French is
available to speak or to assist others on how to set up a MERCI type program.
A donation towards defraying travel, food and lodging is requested. Email: jnfrench@ntelos.net
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