Healthcare waste reduction

Healthcare waste reductionJ. Michael NiedP2 SHWEC Intern

1The purpose of the internship was to find cost effective ways to reduce medical waste, and other forms of waste

2The main incentives to change were compliance with regulations, and cost reduction

3A variety of research methods were used to gather the necessary information

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Conducting a medical waste audit at a Marshfield Clinic lab

5Medical waste reductionImproving SeparationGI unit liquid waste canistersReusable sharps containersTrace chemo waste

6DNR:SharpsBulk blood or body fluids

OSHA: Drippable, pourable, squeezable, flakeable used to describe bulk blood or body fluidsMedical waste is defined by DNR and OSHA

Ensuring that regular trash is not thrown away as medical waste is an effective way to reduce cost

8Reduce medical waste by 23,000 pounds per yearReduce disposal costs by a few thousand dollars per yearComply with DNR mandated medical waste plan

An estimated 10% reduction of medical waste will have significant results

9GI unit liquid waste can be diverted to the sanitary sewer

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Low Implementation Cost$$$ Yearly savingsPayback: 1.5 yearsAlready used in other Marshfield Clinic departmentsThe SAF-T pump is the best system for the GI department

11Soft trace chemo waste can be disposed of into bags instead of sharps containers

Hard Trace Chemo WasteSoft Trace Chemo Waste

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Implementation cost: $8,000Annual decreased purchasing costsReduced disposalTotal Savings: $13,200Payback: 7 monthsPlastic waste reduction: 4,200 pounds of plastic per year

The oncology department has embraced this project and it is on its way to implementation

13Reusable sharps containers will reduce waste and prevent pollution

14Implementation cost: $0Savings: 17% for 60 month contractPollution prevented: 5,000 pounds of plastic containersReusable containers also cost less money than disposable containers

15Other waste reduction projectsThese were the projects that did not involve medical waste

16A significant amount of yearly waste comes from remodeling projects

17May increase recycling by 6 tons per yearIROW recycling quote: 20 yard dumpster Will reduce costs for large volume remodeling projects.May want to be considered on a case to case basis

Recommendations

18Energy efficient lighting will significant yearly cost savings

LED LightingT8 Lighting

19Implementation cost: $200 per fixturePayback period: 3.5 yearsLED lighting is more energy efficient, but has a high implementation cost

20Implementation cost: $70 per fixtureLess energy than T12, but same light outputPayback period: 1.8 yearsT8 lighting is less expensive to implement, and has a quicker payback period

21Recommend that lighting be upgraded where possibleUncertainty about future remodeling projects is a barrier to implementation

Implementation

22Purchasing a cardboard compactor for the Hume warehouse did not have a desirable payback period

23More expensiveMore labor timeNo significant pollution prevention

The Bulb Eater was not as cost effective or waste reducing as it claimed.

24The recommended projects will reduce pollution and save money for Marshfield ClinicIt is my hope that these projects will be implemented and that pollution prevention activities will continue after I leaveConclusion

25Manager Paul SteinesSHWEC advisor Jonathan RivinBill Jeppson, Corporate RiskSue Weister, Recycling CoordinatorMarlene Jaglinski, SHWEC intern coordinatorKarrie Karl, Building ServicesAll Marshfield Clinic Employees

Thank You

26Any Questions?

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