ing a new fluid man-
agement device —
the cart-based units
at Boston Out-Patient
range from $10,000 to
$15,000 — Ms.
Sheehan says closed
disposal systems are
generally paid off in 2
years or less.
How? You'll spend
less on disposable
canisters, solidifying
agents and red bag waste disposal. Costly employee injuries will be
averted, and less staff time will go toward cleaning ORs. Also,
Practice Greenhealth says installing closed systems can save a
facility $3,600 a year per OR.
• Employee benefits. Converting to a closed disposal system bene-
fits your staff as well: fewer heavy fluid canisters to lift, less exposure
to bloodborne pathogens and greatly reduced risk of slipping on wet
OR floors.
Ms. Barnett says the old fluid collection device used at Ascension
had a fluid collection canister made of glass. It didn't catch all of the
fluid, so slipping hazards were ever present.
"It could break and was very difficult to empty," she says. "The old
way was not the safest method of disposal for our staff. The new way
is nice and clean, and much safer."
Acceptance is fluid
Your staff will love to work with a closed fluid waste management
A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 6 5
• TOUGH JOB Staff who manually empty suction canisters are at risk of exposure
and on-the-job injuries.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
