pose of fluid waste, and to store disposable canisters, according to
Mr. Jones, who says the units will pay for themselves in just a few
years.
Atlantic Health System's Overlook Medical Center, which also
reassessed its method of disposing of fluid waste a few years ago,
reports similar financial benefits. In 2017, the 504-bed facility located
in Summit, N.J., saved close to $400,000 in annual fluid waste manage-
ment costs after installing a direct-to-drain fluid management system,
says Brian Wechsler, RN, CNOR, the facility's clinical coordinator for
orthopedics and podiatry.
"The savings include avoided waste (tonnage), avoided waste dis-
posal fees from disposable canisters and the avoided purchase cost of
disposable canisters," he says.
Safer and more efficient
Collecting fluid runoff in disposable suction canisters puts staff at risk
of workplace injury as they transport filled containers to disposal
areas and to exposure of potentially infectious waste should they
pour the contents down the drain or solidify the fluid for disposal.
Closed mobile units and wall-mounted direct-to-drain disposable
systems lessen the health risks associated with the fluid disposal
process. "The risk of exposure is limited by the decreased risk of
potential spills," says Mr. Wechsler.
Ms. Polking points out that a dryer OR is a safer OR. "There is less
chance for someone to slip," she says. "And staff don't have to lift
heavy canisters."
The mobile collection units in use at Iowa City VA Medical Center
have 2 internal canisters; the upper canister holds up to 4 liters and
the lower one holds up to 20 liters. Depending on the procedures
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