This post, Behind the Curtain of Sharps Injury Prevention and Device Reprocessing, first appeared on https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/. By Karen A. Daley, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Amber H. Mitchell, DrPH, MPH, CPH Current efforts to reduce sharps injuries (SIs) are most typically associated with those occurring to direct care staff.  Less apparent are risks to those working behind the scenes. Ongoing efforts to enhance sharps safety include research, advancements in medical science and safety technology, policy engagement, injury […]

This post, 4 tips for managing medical waste at ASCs, first appeared on https://www.beckersasc.com/. Written by Angie Stewart | November 01, 2018 Hospitals and ASCs generate about 2 million tons of general, hazardous, radioactive or infectious medical waste each year, according to All Points Medical Waste. Here are four strategies for disposing of waste properly: Ensure staff members separate and discard all waste materials in accordance with safety regulations. Enlist a certified provider to manage and haul […]

This post, Proactive ways to prevent improper pharmaceutical disposal, first appeared on https://www.mcknights.com/. As the use of pharmaceuticals in long-term care facilities increases, so does the need for proper management of its waste. With the potential to cause harm for facilities, their residents and the environment, it is imperative that LTC owners and operators understand the current regulatory environment and best practices for pharmaceutical waste. A recent Associated Press investigation found that hospitals and LTC […]

This post, Updates and Tips for Pharmaceutical Waste Management (Don’t Waste Time!), first appeared on http://www.pharmacypracticenews.com/. Despina Kotis, PharmD, FASHP Director of Pharmacy Northwestern Medicine Chicago, Illinois Katie Gauen, PharmD Medication Safety and Compliance Pharmacist Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, Illinois Institutions across the country are faced with 2 key challenges related to pharmaceutical waste management: 1) the proper disposal of drugs, particularly if they are deemed hazardous, and 2) the safe and secure disposal of unused […]

Published: March 8, 2017 This post, How One Community is Educating its Residents on Proper Disposal of Home Medical Waste, first appeared on www.waste360.com. When household medical waste—from sharps and tubing to IV bags—is improperly disposed of in recycling containers, it slows the work at materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and can put workers’ health in jeopardy. Recently motivated by medical waste thrown into residential recycling carts, the Region of Peel, which provides waste management services […]

You know that the red trash bags are specially made to contain medical or biohazardous waste, but what exactly should you put in them and what should go in the regular trash? Use these bags to dispose of solid or liquid items contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). There are multiple definitions used for medical waste, which is also referred to as regulated, infective, infectious and biohazardous waste. A definition from OSHA […]