How to Reuse Medical Equipment

Medical equipment such as walking devices, adaptive equipment for dressing and bathing, bedside commodes and wheelchairs are expensive and often only needed for short periods of time. Canes, walkers, hospital beds and wheelchairs that are still in good condition after long-term use often end up in landfills. There are several avenues for reusing medical equipment to conserve materials and reduce cost.

Instructions

• 1

  Donate your equipment to be given to people in developing countries. Contact Worldscopes to donate stethosopes to doctors around the world. Donate used wheelchairs to Wheels for the World, an organization that restores and transports them to countries around the world affected by natural disasters or limited resources. Physical and occupational therapists volunteer their time and services to those receiving the wheelchairs, making sure they are properly fitted and used.

• 2

  Find a community organization that takes donations of medical equipment or purchases used items to be re-sold to people who need them locally. Try OneSight Regional Eye Care to donate used eyeglasses for distribution to children in need. In New York, donate items to the Southern Tier Independence Center for their loan closet, providing medical equipment for short-term use at no cost to individuals in need.

• 3

  Contact local healthcare facilities to make a donation. Offer medical devices that improve mobility, like wheelchairs and walkers; they can be used by multiple patients when cleaned with disinfectant that meets standards set by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) -- typically a mixture of bleach and water -- and inspected for safety.