Hospitals have always expected washer-disinfectors to deliver reliable cleaning performance. Today, however, purchasing decisions are increasingly shaped by a broader set of considerations. Alongside performance and reliability, healthcare providers are paying closer attention to operational efficiency, utility consumption and total cost of ownership throughout the equipment lifecycle.
More pressure. More expectations.
Hospitals are increasingly looking for opportunities to optimize the use of resources while continuing to deliver safe, high-quality patient care. The World Health Organization identifies the optimized use of water and energy as an important element of environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities.[1]
Alongside patient safety and clinical performance, healthcare organizations are placing greater emphasis on operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. Recent analyses highlight that hospitals are among the most resource-intensive parts of the healthcare system, making the efficient use of energy and water increasingly relevant when planning and modernizing healthcare.[2]
These developments are influencing how hospitals evaluate medical equipment.
Where purchasing decisions once focused primarily on cleaning performance and reliability, procurement teams are increasingly considering how equipment performs throughout its lifetime – including operational costs, utility consumption and ease of use.
“Today, our customers are looking beyond the purchase price and placing greater emphasis on total cost of ownership. Installation, preventive maintenance and utility consumption all contribute to operating costs. With these priorities in mind, we developed the Aquadis 44 to deliver long-term value and lower overall cost,” says Marcus Samuelsson, Product Manager at Getinge.
Looking beyond the purchase price
The initial investment is only one part of the equation.
Throughout the lifetime of a washer-disinfector, hospitals continuously use electricity, water and detergents while also investing in maintenance and staff resources. Over years of daily operation, these factors contribute significantly to the total cost of ownership.
As a result, hospitals are increasingly looking beyond purchase price alone when evaluating new equipment. Operational efficiency and resource consumption have become additional considerations alongside cleaning performance and reliability.
Even modest reductions in water, detergent or energy consumption per cleaning cycle can accumulate over 2,000 to 4,000 cleaning cycles per year, making operational efficiency an increasingly important consideration over the equipment's lifetime.
Designing equipment that uses only what is needed
Improving resource efficiency is not simply about reducing consumption. It is about using the appropriate amount of resources for each cleaning cycle while maintaining validated cleaning performance.
Advances in washer-disinfector technology now make it possible to adapt water and detergent use according to the actual load instead of applying the same settings to every cycle.
This approach not only helps reduce unnecessary utility consumption but also supports consistent and reliable cleaning outcomes.
"Water consumption can vary considerably depending on the load. By adapting both water filling and detergent dosing, the system helps maintain the correct detergent concentration and consistent cleaning performance while using only the resources required for each load," says Samuelsson.
Supporting people as well as operational efficiency
Efficiency extends beyond water and energy consumption.
Hospital staff work in demanding environments where workflows are often under constant pressure. Equipment that is intuitive to operate, easy to load and designed with ergonomics in mind can help simplify daily tasks and support more efficient workflows while reducing unnecessary physical strain.
As hospitals continue to address staffing challenges and optimize daily operations, usability is becoming an increasingly important consideration in equipment selection.
From efficiency to long-term value
Today, hospitals increasingly evaluate equipment based on the value it delivers throughout its operational lifetime.
Reliable cleaning performance remains essential. Increasingly, however, procurement decisions also consider factors such as utility consumption, ease of use, maintenance requirements and overall operating costs.
This broader perspective reflects a shift towards evaluating equipment based on its long-term operational value rather than purchase price alone.
Reducing the consumption of water, detergents or energy during routine operation does not replace cleaning performance but complements it. When equipment can maintain validated cleaning performance while optimizing the use of resources, hospitals can improve operational efficiency throughout the reprocessing workflow.
Putting resource efficiency into practice
Resource efficiency is not achieved through a single feature, but through design decisions that support everyday hospital workflows.
One example of this approach is the Getinge Aquadis 44 washer-disinfector. Features such as automatic adjustment of water and detergent according to the load, an intuitive user interface and ergonomic loading are designed to support efficient day-to-day operation while maintaining reliable cleaning performance. Connectivity with solutions such as FleetView and T-DOC further supports equipment management and traceability across the reprocessing workflow.
As hospitals continue to look beyond purchase price alone, technologies that combine performance, usability and efficient use of resources can help support long-term operational value.