Purge Station Time-Value Study

This is a time-value study of the effectiveness of having a separate handpiece purge station, IN THE STERILIZATION ROOM (a handpiece air station used specifially for purging handpiece lubricants). The intent of a installing a separate station (NOT in an operatory or on an operatory handpiece air station) is multi-fold. Factors affected by having a specific area for purging handpiece lubricant are:

• Primarily: the time it takes for your staff to do a handpiece purge after using a proper "onestep" handpiece lubricant.
• The costs of replacing the air-lines in operation rooms due to the effect that cleaners, fluids and some lubricants have on the lines (hardening, discoloration).
• Reduction or elimination of lubricants, in 'free form', from operation rooms: preventing general mess and potential bonding problems.
• Better consistancy of maintenance and reduced mess from handpiece lubricant in the sterilization rooms (clean-rooms).

What the study hereunder does is just deal with STAFF time, and does NOT delve in to the other positive aspects of a separate and dedicated handpiece air station located in near your handpiece sterilizer, and used for purging handpieces and attachments.

DCI (or similar type) Air Station effectiveness and value study

• Conclusion : Ease of use: Very easy: with proper adaptor attached, average use time = 3 seconds + purge time (purge time is excluded in both sides of the equation in the analysis: it is the same)
• Conclusion: Time effectiveness: VERY effective cost on even single handpieces. With multiple handpieces in a clinic, effectiveness is exponential.
• Handpiece lubricate purge effectiveness: It's consistent, fast, thorough. This should reduce the time-cost of the lubrication of high-speed handpieces considerably over those sterilization rooms without an air-station, and the effectiveness of the purge process: in time, ease and quality of function.

Assumptions

• Hourly rate of cost for qualified personnel: $16.95/hour avg.
• Scenario: NOT USING a purge station. Time used in:
  • disconnecting handpiece
• walking to sterilization area (assuming lubricants are kept out of operation areas, as they should be)
• removing bur, cleaning outside, lubricating, cleaning optics, walking back to the operatory air unit
• connecting handpiece for expelling (handpiece purge) of excess lube and detritus
• disconnecting handpiece after handpiece purge (reconnecting another tool on the station before carrying the one being maintained out of the operatory)
• walking back to Sterilization room the handpiece ready for sterilization
• placing in sterilization unit

• Alternate scenario: USING a purge station. Time used in:
  • going to Operatory air station to collect handpiece,
  • disconnecting handpiece
  • walking to sterilization area
  • removing bur, cleaning outside, lubricating, cleaning optics, placing it on purge station to purge
  • placing in sterilization unit

• Equipment used: Average of quick-connect and regular-connect
  

Notes

• Potential variables:
  • Price of DCI and adaptors
  • Cost of installation
  • Failure to follow proper maintenance procedures
  • Use in varying fields of specialty may affect total times HP is used in one year.
  • Number of HP’s in use in office
  • Cost of labor for maintenance

• Constant: whether using an air station or not, manual chucks (bur in) should be purged 10 seconds longer than auto-chucks (bur out). The bur being in will tend to retain more of excess handpiece lubricant from the head of some brands.
  

Summary

Assume that this research is severely flawed: that the above cost assumptions may be %100 UNDERstated, and the benefits may be INFLATED by 100%. Even although that is blown way out of proportion, it is hard to see how it would be impossible for a dental office to realize less than an EXCELLENT investment return on having installed a dedicated handpiece air station, for handpiece purge only. This unit is $250 to $400, installed! (depending on your service rep or whether it's a "do-it-yourself")

Ecomonic Study