BIOHAZARDOUSWASTEREDUCTIONINTHEOPERATINGROOM.pptVIP

BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE REDUCTION IN THE OPERATING ROOM OR QUALITY COUNCIL OR MANAGEMENT OR SURGICAL SERVICE TECHS ALL OR STAFF PPG PURCHASING DEPARTMENT Project Aim Statement Due to the need to shut down the campus incinerator by June 30, 2010, the O.R. decided to take a closer look at our disposal practices. We wanted to reduce the amount of red bio-hazardous waste, vs. clear bag waste and potentially lower the cost of waste disposal to the hospital. The cost of disposal for the hospital is $45.00/Ton plus the cost of the truck which is $210.00 per trip. The current haul away is 10 – 20 tons a trip. Aim Statement Currently all waste at LUHS is incinerated. LUHS will be required to shut down its campus incinerator by 6/30/2010. The OR generates a large amount of red bag waste each day. Upon observation, red bags contain items that can be disposed of in clear bags. Red bags cost .65/each. Prior to project implementation red bag cost was $16,224. Goal The OR aims to reduce red bag usage by 50%, thereby reducing cost. The Aim….Measurable Goal and Target Monitoring the number of bio-hazardous red bag used per day in the O.R. before staff re-education and after. Our target goal was to reduce red bag use by 50% after staff re-education red bag vs. clear bag disposal practice. Forces of Magnetism Force 7: Quality Improvement Force 10: Community and the Healthcare Organization SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED Re-educated all OR staff during in-service on 11/7/07 about the difference between bio-hazardous and clean waste. Re-designed garbage bins and made clear bags more available in the OR. Notified staff that a process was being put into place to monitor red bag garbage. …STUDYANALYSIS By enabling staff to differentiate usage of red bags versus clear bags and increasing clear bag availability, bio-hazardous waste was reduced dramatically therefore reducing cost. Red bag usage decreased from 96 bags/day to 21 bags/day. Costs decreased from $16,224 to $3,601 annually realizin