Which costs of health care are use-sensitive besides drugs, bandages and syringes?

[sharesunited]

If doctors, nurses, and technical support staff are all on salary, and if capital equipment is all on installment debt, what aspect of healthcare costs is directly related to the number of patients examined and/or treated?

[lindisfarne]

1. All sorts of things are. Many of them are 1-time use in US but get sterilized and shipped off to 3rd

world countries for use there.
Why can't it be sterilized & reused in US? Probably concerns about infections, but in 3rd world, they won't have it if it doesn't come via charity, & sterilization probably is almost as good as new.

[Warpy]

4. I remember reusing glass syringes and separate needles

I remember how hard it was on the patients when those needles weren't as sharp as they should be. I remember how often I got stuck when I rinsed that stuff out.

I especially remember that first hepatitis B test that came back positive.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. electricity for xray and lab services

takes a lot... fuel for ambulances, helicopters and such

[Oregone]

3. Some cost, I imagine, is based on difficulty/necessity of operation

Rather than materials used

[uppityperson]

5. For facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc...

Gloves, gowns, table paper, tongue depressors, thermometer covers, charts (paper).
Diapers, attends, cleaning supplies, medicine cups, drinking cups.
Emesis basin, water pitcher, kleenex, toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, slippers or non-skid sox.
Pads for beds, bubble packages that medicines come individually packaged in, suture removal kits.
Isolation gear, masks, more gloves, plastic bags for trash.

Off the top of my head. Bet I could come up with more with a little bit of time, but there is a start.