The use of disposable plasticized medical gowns – both conventional and biodegradable – has surged since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Landfills now brim with them. Because the biodegradable version decomposes faster than conventional gowns, popular wisdom held that it offers a greener option by less space use and chronic emissions in landfills. That wisdom may be wrong. Biodegradable medical gowns actually introduce harsh greenhouse gas discharge problems, according to new research published Dec. […]

As a supply chain leader, Motz Feinberg isn’t just focused on getting product to the point of care. The vice president of supply chain at Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Health System is also intent on guiding and leveraging other leaders’ understanding of supply chain operations. Many hospital leaders outside of supply chain developed a greater appreciation for the complexities of supply operations during the COVID-19 pandemic as they faced shortages of personal protective equipment and other […]

Needle disposal boxes in bathrooms on college campuses provide a safe receptacle where students who take injectable medications can discard their used needles. College students who use injectable medications while on campus often face a difficult conundrum: Do they toss their used needles in campus trash cans, posing a health risk to custodial staff, or carry them around campus until they can safely dispose of them, running the risk of accidently poking themselves or others […]

Hospitals are not fully prepared to handle waste from Ebola and other deadly viruses on-site, according to the Healthcare Coalition for Emergency Preparedness. Hospitals in the U.S. have been instructed to ramp up their preparedness plans, but many of these facilities still aren’t able to sterilize medical waste from Ebola or other deadly diseases on site, according to the Healthcare Coalition for Emergency Preparedness. Late last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ […]

The health care sector accounts for almost 10% of U.S. emissions and is one of the country’s largest producers of waste. What can be done to make it more sustainable, while maintaining safety? If you were being treated in a hospital, your immediate concerns probably wouldn’t include plastic waste, but maybe they should. Growing awareness of the links between environmental and human health has some in the U.S. health care system wondering if the pledge […]

Do you run a medical facility? If so, you understand how important it is to correctly eliminate medical waste. Medical waste is one of the most dangerous types of waste. It can contain all sorts of contaminants and diseases, which is why it’s so important to get rid of it correctly. Improper disposal can lead to serious health problems for both people and animals. This article will discuss the importance of safely and responsibly getting […]