12 March 2018
When managing regulated medical waste, healthcare organizations often focus on internal processes, including how staff throw away contaminated materials and how frequently waste containers get picked up. Unfortunately, organizations can sometimes lose sight of what happens to waste after it leaves the facility. As good stewards of the environment, organizations should be aware of medical waste treatment and disposal, checking to be sure their waste management partners are appropriately addressing any requirements. Not only is this the right thing to do from an environmental perspective, if your waste management partner isn’t reliably meeting all applicable standards, it could reflect poorly on you, with negative impacts to your reputation. There are two primary methods for treating regulated medical waste:
A strong medical waste management partner is key to ensuring your medical waste is properly treated after it leaves your facility. Such a partner should be well versed in the state and federal regulations, including those from the Department of Transportation (DOT). The company should fully appreciate the differences between requirements—for example, the mandatory temperatures for autoclaving vary by state. It’s also helpful if your waste management partner has tracking and recordkeeping abilities. Moreover, these tools will allow you to demonstrate compliance should a regulatory authority be interested. At Stericycle, we offer comprehensive waste management services, including autoclaving and incineration. We help you understand your state’s regulations and set up programs that help ensure compliance. We also engage in robust tracking and recordkeeping. For more information about how Stericycle can be your total waste management partner, contact us at 855-602-6279.
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