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S U S T A I N A B L E
H
S U C C E S S
ere are 6 examples of how sustainability efforts — "going
green," if you will — can improve the care you provide and
save your facility money, all the while benefiting the envi-
ronment.
1. Direct fluid waste
To appreciate the pluses of direct-to-drain fluid waste management,
first consider the alternative. Without it, your staff must carry filled
containers to a sink and pour the contents down the drain or solidify
the waste for disposal in red bags. Potential splashing during disposal
increases risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Slip, trip and fall
risks are also heightened during the transport of full — and heavy —
containers from the point of use to the hopper. Finally, some solidifiers used to prep fluid waste for red bag disposal include chemicals
such as glutaraldehyde — a known sensitizer — and registered disinfectants, so they have their own employee-exposure issues.
Fluid waste management systems that dock or link to sanitary
sewer systems eliminate staff's having to manually empty canisters,
which reduces risk of bloodborne pathogen exposure and speeds the
waste disposal process. Facilities also tout the intangible employee
satisfaction benefits realized when staff members no longer carry
heavy containers to disposal areas. Anesthesiologists also prefer to
use the systems because they can often get a more accurate reading
of patient fluid loss during surgery.
F E B R U A R Y 2013 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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