Skip to content
When margins tighten, supply savings matter—but not if they compromise safety, workflow, or compliance. This guide outlines proven ways to reduce spend on gloves, drapes, and high-volume disposables while maintaining the standards your clinicians rely on.
Why MFI Medicals?
We share our negotiated savings directly with you, lowering prices on more than 120,000 SKUs. If you find a lower quote, we’ll match or beat it. Plus, Subscribe & Save takes an extra 2% off your high-volume essentials.
What “Quality” Really Means for Everyday Clinical Supplies
Gloves (Exam & Procedure)
Look for material suitability (nitrile/latex/vinyl), a complete size curve, tactile sensitivity, expected thickness (mil), AQL thresholds, and consistent lot performance.
Drapes & Gowns
Match barrier level to actual procedure requirements—avoid over-spec'ing for routine exams. Evaluate linting, fluid resistance, and packaging that support efficient drawer and cart organization.
General Disposables
Check tear/abrasion resistance, sterility indicators when applicable, clean-peel performance, and packaging that prevents loss due to opened but unused items.
Smart Tip: Buy for your use case—not the highest specification on the shelf. Overshooting performance needs is a silent but common budget leak.
Seven Ways to Cut Supply Costs Without Cutting Quality
1. Standardize SKUs Across Rooms & Providers
Limit glove brands/materials to 1–2 options and unify drape sizes and core pack counts. Standardization increases volume tiers, reduces partial boxes, and prevents slow-moving variants.
2. Right-Size Your Specifications
Reserve premium, high-barrier, or heavier-mil products for procedures that require them. For routine exams, opt for reliable and economical alternatives.
3. Buy Case Quantities & Optimize Pack Counts
Case buys reduce per-unit costs and freight. Avoid awkward pack sizes that encourage over-opening or leave unusable remnants.
4. Set Pars + Safety Stock
A simple par formula keeps shelves stocked without overbuying:
Par = (Average Weekly Use × Lead Time in Weeks) + Safety Stock
Maintain 1–2 weeks of safety stock to avoid rush orders that erode your savings.
5. Use Subscriptions for High-Velocity Items
Subscribe & Save locks in 2% off gloves, wipes, drapes, gauze, and more. You’ll reduce stockouts and eliminate emergency replenishment.
6. Lean on Price Match & Equivalent Alternatives
Have a better quote from McKesson or Medline? Send it. We’ll match or beat it. Ask for equivalent alternatives—same indications/specs—when your preferred SKU is backordered.
7. Consolidate Purchase Orders
Combine light and heavy items into a single PO. MFI’s free shipping (contiguous U.S., non-oversized) makes consolidated ordering even more efficient.
Quick Specification Guides
Gloves
-
Material: Nitrile for chemical resistance/latex-free needs; latex for tactile feel; vinyl for light tasks.
-
Fit: Maintain XS–XL to prevent upsizing and waste.
-
Use case: Higher-mil for procedures/cleaning; standard-mil for exams.
Drapes
-
Use case: Basic exam drapes for routine use; step up barrier performance only where protocol requires.
-
Format: Pre-cut sheets reduce waste when staff consistently over-tear rolls.
Common Disposables
For swabs, gauze, masks, specimen cups, and bags, prioritize consistent packaging footprints and validate linting/absorbency for your workflows.
Playbooks by Facility Type
Primary Care / Clinics
Standardize nitrile gloves (two colors for instant size ID), use economical exam drapes, and subscribe to your top-20 replenishment items.
Consolidate monthly orders and maintain a one-week buffer.
Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC)
Split routine vs. procedure-grade supplies. Use higher-barrier drapes only where required.
Leverage case buys and quarterly reviews to identify slow movers.
Urgent Care
Create a fast-moving core kit: nitrile gloves, basic drapes, masks, wound care items, and specimen cups.
Use invoice audits to identify brand equivalencies and price-tier opportunities.
Dental Practices
Separate clinical disposables (barriers, bibs, cups) from sterilization supplies.
Standardize operatory setups and subscribe to recurring items to avoid gaps.
Three Habits That Protect Your Savings
-
Label bins with SKU + par to ensure anyone can reorder correctly.
-
Use FIFO to prevent expired or stale inventory.
-
Conduct a quarterly invoice audit to spot price creep, duplicated SKUs, and expensive backorder substitutions.
Put Us to the Test: Free Audit + Price Match
Invoice Audit (Free):
Send 30–60 days of invoices or your top SKUs. You’ll receive a line-by-line savings report with equivalent options.
Price Match Guarantee:
We match or beat most competitor pricing—including shipping—on comparable items.
Get Started:
Since 1980, MFI Medical has provided high-quality equipment and consumables at the lowest possible prices—with Free Shipping & Free Returns on non-oversized, returnable items in the contiguous U.S., Rewards, Subscribe & Save, and our Price Match Guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are lower-cost gloves still safe for clinical use?
Yes—when they meet required material, thickness, and AQL standards. Always source from reputable manufacturers.
2. Can we mix drape types without confusing staff?
Absolutely. Standardize SKUs, label bins clearly, and use color coding to distinguish routine vs. procedure use.
3. What’s the fastest way to lower supply costs?
Standardize SKUs and run a free invoice audit. These two steps reveal immediate tier and equivalency savings.
4. How do we avoid stockouts without overbuying?
Set pars based on demand and lead time, subscribe to top movers, and maintain 1–2 weeks of safety stock.
5. What if a competitor drops pricing after we switch?
Send the quote—our Price Match Guarantee ensures you remain at the best available price.
