6 4
O U T P AT 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 | J U N E 2 0 1 4
Juliana E.
Hansen, MD,
FACS, the
division chief
of plastic and
reconstruc-
tive surgery at
Oregon
Health and
Science
University
(OHSU).
Once staff
gets accustomed to recycling the wrap, add another bin for mixed
items — clean paper and clean plastic. Make sure that the recycling
bins are well marked and a different color from regular waste bins,
notes Dr. Hansen. In areas where a lot of contaminated waste is gen-
erated, recycling bins should have a lid in order to discourage nurses
from throwing random contaminants in them. "The lids may discour-
age recycling when first introduced, but as buy-in increases, so too
will recycling," says Dr. Hansen. "Eventually, recycling will be part of
everyday business in your ORs." It is in hers. Each day OHSU's 21
operating rooms recycle about 300 pounds of uncontaminated paper
and plastic.
Another way to reduce the use of blue wrap is to eliminate it alto-
gether and replace it with reusable, rigid sterilization containers.
These reusable containers, which don't generate any waste except for
when the filter needs to be changed, can be expensive, a factor you'll
need to consider, especially if you'll need to buy and store lots of con-
tainers. But keep in mind that it's time consuming to wrap instru-
G O I N G G R E E N
SynergyHealth is a registered trademark of Synergy Health plc.
401 East Jackson Street, Tampa, FL 33602 Form #5175
CONTACT US TODAY
CALL NOW 813.891.9550
WEBSITE: www.synergyhealthplc.com
EMAIL: gogreen@synergyhealthplc.com
our work protects your world
SWITCHING TO REUSABLE
TEXTILES CAN REDUCE UP
TO 65% IN MEDICAL WASTE
COMING FROM YOUR OR.*
DID
YOU
KNOW
* Conrardy, J et al Reducing Medical Waste. AORN journal.
Volume 91, No. 6. June 2010, pg 711-721"
Surgical Gowns
Drapes
OR Towels
Mayo Stand Covers
Instrument Wraps
Stainless Basins
Back Table Covers
SODA CAN? You're throwing money away when you fill
red bags that are labeled as medical waste with harmless
trash that could be more cheaply disposed.
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