
Quick Summary:
Hospitals, urgent care offices, and medical clinics need a variety of supplies and equipment readily available to function. From PPE and wound care to IV supplies and urinary care, keep your inventory stocked with these medical supplies.
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- Introduction
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Wound Care Supplies
- Catheters and Drainage Supplies
- IV Therapy and Infusion Supplies
- Respiratory Care Supplies
- Diagnostic and Monitoring Tools
- Exam Room Essentials
- Sterilization and Cleaning Supplies
- Mobility Aids and Patient Positioning Tools
- Emergency Preparedness Supplies
- Conclusion
Introduction
Proper medical inventory management is key to supply chain preparedness. Hospitals must be ready to treat patients even during shortages, natural disasters, or epidemics.
Essentials include personal protective equipment (PPE), wound care supplies, catheters, IV therapy supplies, respiratory care products, diagnostic tools, exam room essentials, sterilization supplies, and mobility aids.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Protecting medical staff is just as important as protecting patients. Stocking up on supplies such as masks, gloves, hospital gowns, and face shields helps prevent the spread of infection and save lives.
Masks
- Bendable nosepiece
- Efficiently filters out bacteria
- Elastic bands
Gloves
Nitrile
- Not made with natural rubber latex
- Beaded cuffs
- Textured fingertips
- Puncture-resistant
Latex
- Useful for a variety of tasks
- Powder free
- Easy to don and doff
Vinyl
- Not made with natural rubber latex
- Smooth texture
- Tacktile-sensitive
Gowns
- Made of lightweight polypropylene
- Disposable
- Waistband ties for closure in the back of the gown
Face Shields
- Universal size
- Anti-fog
- 98% bacteria and particle filtration efficiency
Wound Care Supplies
Wound care supplies are essential for both minor and serious injuries. Keeping supplies in stock, such as bandaging materials, antiseptic wound solutions, and surgical dressing supplies, is of the utmost importance. Hospitals and medical facilities should maintain an ample supply of gauze, bandages, tape, antiseptics, and wound cleansers.
Gauze
- Low-linting
- Soft, stretchable cotton
- Contours to the body
Bandages
- Moves with the body
- Breathable material
- Water-resistant
- Useful as a secondary dressing
Tape
- Not made with natural rubber latex
- Water-resistant
- Stretches diagonally
Antiseptics
- Gentle on the skin
- Leaves a protective barrier
- Immediately kills microbes
Wound Cleansers
- Reduces unwanted odors
- Non-toxic
- Kills microorganisms
- Promotes healing
Catheters and Drainage Supplies
Maintaining a fully-stocked urinary catheter inventory is key in both inpatient and outpatient care. When creating a urology supply checklist, be sure to include items such as Foley catheters, intermittent catheters, leg bags, and extension tubing.
Foley Catheters
- Made of latex and silicone
- 2-way catheter
- Large drainage eyes
- Spring-loaded valve
Intermittent Catheters
- Polished eyelets
- Pre-lubricated
- Straight tip
- Not made with natural rubber latex
Leg Bags
- Reusable
- Anti-reflux valve
- Durable vinyl
- Reduces odors
Extension Tubing
- Kink-resistant
- Cuttable to desired length
- Reduces risk of blockage
- Not made with natural rubber latex
IV Therapy and Infusion Supplies
Infusion therapy helps deliver fluids and medication to patients in critical condition.
Intravenous supply essentials include IV catheters and extension sets.
IV Catheters
- One-handed insertion
- Doesn’t require compression
- Non-winged
- Improves the likelihood of first-stick success
Extension Sets
- Connects to male and female Luer lock IV equipment
- User-friendly
- DEHP-free
Respiratory Care Supplies
Oxygen support is imperative for both emergencies and chronic respiratory care.
Keep ample oxygen masks, tubing, nebulization therapy kits, filters, and suction equipment in stock.
Oxygen Masks
- Adult-sized
- Kink-resistant
- 7-foot tubing
- Bendable metal nose piece
Tubing
- Not made with natural rubber latex
- 7 and 25-foot length options
- Colored purple for visibility
- Crush-resistant
Nebulizers
- Optimizes medication delivery
- Breath-actuated
- Includes mouthpiece and aerosol mask attachments
Filters
- Disposable
- Long-lasting
- Help extend nebulizers’ lifespans
Suction Catheters
- Easily readable graduations
- Not made with natural rubber latex
- 8, 12, and 14 French sizes available
Diagnostic and Monitoring Tools
Thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, and stethoscopes are useful for real-time patient monitoring and triage.
Thermometers
- Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature readings
- Fever alarm
- Measures forehead temperature
- 3-second results
Blood Pressure Cuffs
- Compatible with Drive blood pressure monitors
- Fits larger arms
- Soft nylon
- Not made with natural rubber latex
Pulse Oximeters
- Large numbers
- For children and adults
- Adjustable brightness
- Pre-calibrated
Stethoscopes
- Adjustable diaphragm
- Easy to clean
- Open bell
- Dual lumen
Exam Room Essentials
Clinicians use disposable medical exam tools every day for routine patient assessments.
Due to their single-use nature, speculums, tongue depressors, and swabs should be restocked regularly.
Disposable Speculums
- Single-use
- Not made with natural rubber latex
- Medium-sized blades
- Transparent plastic
Tongue Depressors
- Smooth wooden surface
- Useful for a variety of tasks
- 5.5 and 6-inch lengths available
- Splinter-resistant
Swabs
- Individually wrapped
- Available in lemon glycerin, dentifrice, and unflavored
- Cleans, moistens, and refreshes
- Relieves symptoms of dry mouth
Sterilization and Cleaning Supplies
Disinfecting medical equipment, surfaces, and hands is crucial for preventing cross-contamination. Disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizers, and autoclave supplies are non-negotiables for medical supply closets.
Disinfectant Wipes
- Kills microorganisms in 2 minutes
- Made of isopropyl alcohol and quaternary ammonium
- Ideal for cleaning steel, plastic, laminate, and glass
- Durable cloth-like material
Hand Sanitizers
- Moisturizes skin
- Alcohol-based
- Quickly kills 99.99% of bacteria
- Doesn’t leave residue
Autoclave Supplies
- Self-sealing
- Lead-free
- Chemical indicators
- Designed for ethylene oxide (EO) sterilizers
Mobility Aids and Patient Positioning Tools
Patient transfer supplies and assistive transport devices are essential tools during rehabilitation. There is constantly a high demand for wheelchairs, transfer boards, gait belts, and support cushions.
Wheelchairs
- Durable frame
- Push-to-lock wheel brakes
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
Transfer Boards
- Durable
- Minimizes friction on skin
- Swivel seat
- Lightweight
- High weight capacity
Gait Belts
- Easy to clean
- Self-locking
- Improves patient safety
Support Cushions
- Waterproof vinyl
- Held in place by snaps and straps
- Corrects posture
Emergency Preparedness Supplies
Hospitals should maintain a substantial urgent care medical stock. Code blue equipment, such as CPR masks, defibrillators, trauma kits, and emergency medications, can be the difference between life and death.
CPR Masks
- Protects first responders
- One-way valve
- Not made with natural rubber latex
Defibrillators
- Provides audible instructions
- Set up for immediate use
- Child and adult options available
Trauma Kits
- Lightweight and compact
- Includes disposable gloves, gauze, shears, and more
- Water-resistant case
- Highly organized
Emergency Medications
- Saves lives after an opioid overdose
- Over-the-counter
- Easy to use
- Safe for all ages
Conclusion
Stock planning for medical centers helps ensure supply readiness in times of national shortages. Since it’s almost impossible to predict natural disasters, global pandemics, or supply interruptions, the responsibility of regular inventory checks falls to medical facilities.
This includes essential healthcare supplies for personal protection, wound care, catheters, urinary drainage, IV therapy, infusions, respiratory care, diagnostics, exam rooms, sterilization, mobility aids, and emergency preparedness.