Orthopedic Care Medical Waste Disposal
Here is an overview of orthopedic care medical waste disposal. Ailments of the bones, joints and other ligaments are very common today. With an increasingly aging population, more people are dealing with things like arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis and other trauma than in years past.
To assist those who suffer with these conditions, the medical practice of orthopedics including orthopedic surgeons or orthopedists work to diagnose, correct and prevent issues in patients.
Typical surgeries in this practice include knee and hip replacement surgeries as well as implantation of mechanical devices. The orthopedics industry is one of the largest in the healthcare sector and according to some reports, it is predicted to grow at around 4 percent by 2020.
The health professionals at these facilities, like other medical facilities, must maintain compliance with medical waste disposal standards or risk fines, possible injuries and worse.
Here is an overview of orthopedic care medical waste disposal.
Understanding Biomedical Waste
Biomedical waste is any type of waste that is accrued during a medical procedure, diagnosis or other treatment that may contain infectious materials like blood and other tissue. Transmission of deadly diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C can happen if the waste isn’t handled carefully and properly disposed of. Especially in operating rooms, where the most waste in the healthcare industry is produced, it is critical that all of it is properly handled, and disposed of. Waste segregation in clearly distinct waste bins should be a standard practice to keep the harmful matter out of regular waste baskets or trash bags where an accidental needlestick or other contact can happen.
Orthopedic Care Medical Waste Disposal
During an orthopedic procedure, there can be any amount of bodily fluids or blood in the environment and as such any and all waste involved must be handled as infectious waste. Understanding the health hazards at play, it’s critical that facilities have a waste management plan in place that accounts for the disposal of this potentially infectious waste. Additional plans for staff training on how to handle the hazardous waste as well as to use protective equipment on the job must also be part of the plan.
Often times liquid waste is taken to an area of a hospital for processing to minimize the risk of exposure to disease by healthcare workers and patients. Once there, it is either processed following OSHA guidelines or handled by a professional medical waste hauler such as Red Bags. They work within all required disposal guidelines to reduce waste, protect the public and the environment and ensure the waste is properly disposed of. To learn more about how Red Bags can support your orthopedic care medical waste disposal needs, contact us today.
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