Medical Waste
What Medical Waste Training Is Required (and How Often) For Staff
Trained healthcare employees who are responsible for the safe disposal of medical waste is a necessity for the safety of patients and staff. But how often staff will need to be trained will depend on the task … The EPA and OSHA have resources for healthcare facilities to create a training program that will ensure…
Read MoreWho Is Responsible for Packaging Medical Waste?
Medical waste packaging includes red bags, sharps containers, biohazard containers, and more. But whose responsibility is it to ensure that medical waste goes where it belongs? On-site management of regulated medical waste is a multi-pronged issue, as there are state and federal regulations, all of which cover packaging, disposal, handling, and removal. Many states require…
Read MoreData Breaches in Healthcare On the Rise
For years the healthcare industry has been a prime target for cybercriminals, and there is no sign of healthcare data breaches slowing down. Healthcare data breaches are not only a costly catastrophe, but an event that compromises the safety and identity of customers. The Ponemon Institute estimates that data breaches cost the healthcare industry approximately…
Read MoreHow Long Can Sharps and Red Bags Be Stored in Patient Areas in the State of New York?
Exactly how long can you hold onto your stored medical waste in New York State? Medical waste packaging and labeling in a facility that deals with regulated medical waste is the responsibility of the facility itself, and it’s up to managers and staff to follow local and federal compliance laws. Packaging includes sharps containers, biohazard…
Read MoreRegulatory Facts That Small Healthcare Facilities May Be Overlooking
To understand the details of medical waste compliance, smaller medical waste generators should be familiar with all regulatory issues. Laboratories, hospitals, private practice offices, dental facilities, and even veterinary offices are all places that produce medical waste, and they are required by federal, state, and even local laws, to create a medical waste removal plan. …
Read MoreIs Glass Considered Sharps Waste, Even If It’s Not Broken?
Don’t toss that glass in a red bag. Your glass medical waste belongs in a sharps container. Here’s why. One of the most talked about topics in medical waste removal and disposal is sharps waste. Sharps is actually the medical term for a sharp-pointed object that can cut or puncture the skin, and this includes…
Read MoreWhy States Have Different Medical Waste Laws (and Why You Should Know The Differences)
Not all states handle medical waste disposal the same, and understanding your local laws will help you maintain compliance. Medical waste disposal is governed by a stringent set of rules outlined by both state and federal laws, and while state laws will share many similarities, there are also a host of differences across borders. We…
Read MoreCommon Items Found In Medical Waste Containers That Are NOT Medical Waste
Soiled linens. Non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste. Are they really considered medical waste? The process of segregating wastes into the right categories can greatly reduce the volume of regulated medical waste. You wouldn’t put paper trash into red bag waste, nor would you put sharps in a trash receptacle. In these situations, you’re either paying for unnecessary…
Read MoreWyoming Medical Waste Requirements
A look at Wyoming medical waste requirements. The Wyoming Department of Health and Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Solid and Hazardous Waste Division govern the state’s medical waste and disposal regulations, many of which mirror other states. In Wyoming, medical waste refers to any waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings…
Read MoreAre Used Saline Bags Considered Medical Waste?
Many items used in a healthcare facility are considered medical waste, but what about saline bags? There are plenty of waste items under the medical waste umbrella that are obviously infectious waste, but there are others that fall into a gray area and it can be confusing as to how to dispose of them. While…
Read MoreWisconsin Medical Waste Requirements
A look at Wisconsin medical waste requirements. In the state of Wisconsin, medical waste has a few different names. Biohazardous, red bag, and regulated medical waste all refer to waste that is infectious in nature, and it must be segregated from all other waste types. Of course, not all medical waste is produced in a…
Read MoreAdministering the Annual Flu Shot? Here is What You Need to Know about HIPAA’s Privacy Rule
Do you know where and how the personal health information of your patients is being stored? While the seasonal flu can fluctuate year round, the CDC states that flu season can begin as early as October and continue into as late as May. With flu season underway, many are headed to receive their annual flu…
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