The reality of today’s challenging economic times is that we all need to accomplish more with less. Hospitals, surgery centers, and clinicians continue to look for ways to improve efficiency, reduce turnover time, and minimize waste while ensuring patient safety and care. Medical device manufacturers that meet these needs have a real opportunity for growth.

Operating room nurses, surgeons and technicians have exceptionally strong views about packaging and how they want it to perform. The results of a Healthcare Packaging Review panel sponsored by Rollprint Packaging Products, Inc and an AORN (Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses) Survey performed by IoPP (Institute of Packaging Professionals) and presented at HealthPack 2009 confirm this.

A Multivac thermoforming unit, coupled with Rollprint tray sealers, makes possible the testing of thermoformed tray-lidding combinations.

The survey shows that operating room nurses rank speed of opening as most critical with respect to packaging. Respondents indicated that packages with more than one entry point facilitate easy opening in time-critical situations and that they prefer a package with a lip to one with a thumb notch. Additionally, being able to confidently provide aseptic delivery of the product was critical. As a result, package designs such as chevron pouches are favored over tear-open pouches and traditional header bags.

The role that medical-device packaging plays in improving the end-user experience of hospitals, surgery centers, and clinicians is being addressed by medical device manufacturers and their suppliers as they develop packaging alternatives.