Amid rising healthcare costs and a shortage of healthcare workers, hospitals in Illinois are facing increasing financial pressures that threaten their ability to maintain services.
The healthcare industry in Illinois and across the country has experienced a series of financially related layoffs this year, further exacerbating the financial strain many hospitals face.
In July, several healthcare organizations, including Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, announced employee layoffs following budget reviews. While the number of layoffs at Lurie Children's was not disclosed, the ripple effects were felt across the sector.
Chicago-based Howard Brown Health also laid off 43 employees, accounting for 7% of its workforce.
Despite those notable financially-related layoffs, Illinois healthcare facilities are continuing to grapple with significant healthcare staffing shortages, including an estimated 15,000 nurse shortfall by 2025 and 6,200 fewer physicians by 2030.
To cope with these challenges, some healthcare organizations are turning to innovative solutions like Synergy Surgical to mitigate costs and streamline their operations.
Founded in 2000, Synergy Surgical has evolved from its roots as a suture supplier to offering a wide range of over 30,000 surgical products, including devices like staplers, catheters and PPE.
Previously named eSutures, the company rebranded as Synergy Surgical earlier this year as a reflection of its broader mission to provide comprehensive surgical solutions.
Anthony Iaderosa said the company’s rebrand was due to its expansion into more product lines, noting Synergy Surgical now offers a "one-stop shop" for surgical needs, making it easier for hospitals to access high-quality products while keeping costs down.
“While we started out as a suture provider, during the past twenty years, our inventory has grown to more than 30,000 products from trusted manufacturers,” said Anthony Iaderosa, president and founder of Synergy Surgical said, according to Business Daily Network. “From sutures to staplers, catheters, mesh, PPE, and more, we have become your one-stop shop for all your surgical needs.”
One of Synergy’s most significant contributions to hospitals facing financial pressure is its unique redistribution program.
The company purchases unused or excess surgical devices from hospitals and redistributes them to other medical organizations, including surgery centers, educational institutions and veterinary programs.
This program not only helps hospitals recoup some of their costs but also reduces waste in the medical supply chain.
In a press release, Iaderosa said he was inspired to start the company after observing the wasteful practices that often occur in operating rooms, where unused products are discarded instead of reused or sold.
"I was a rep for Medtronic and I happened to be in the operating room and in between cases I would watch the circulating nurse who was prepping for the next case just take her arm and sweep everything that the previous surgeon hadn’t used into a box," he said. "That box goes into a room and ostensibly they’re supposed to put that product back on the shelf. Well that never happens; the box goes into a room, the room fills up, and then all of a sudden you have a problem. I thought, wouldn’t it make more sense if someone would just buy it and assume the liability?"
By purchasing these excess or expired products, Synergy Surgical provides hospitals with a means to generate revenue that can be reinvested into patient care or staff retention efforts. This is particularly important at a time when many hospitals are grappling with staffing shortages and financial constraints.
In addition to its buy-back program, Synergy’s private-label products, which include sutures and nitrile exam gloves, offer cost savings for healthcare providers.
The company’s product range has grown throughout 2024, with further plans to add skin staplers and other medical devices to its offerings.
At the 2024 Fall Hospital Supply Chain Conference, Iaderosa highlighted Synergy Surgical’s role in helping healthcare providers manage their resources efficiently.
The conference, held at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, brought together healthcare executives, supply chain professionals and medical suppliers to discuss strategies for improving hospital operations.
“We’re essentially a liquidator of surgical devices and equipment," Iaderosa said at the time. "Come see us. We want to give you money, we want to buy your product."
