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Year:: 2019
Contributor:: Hsu, Sarah (Author); Slutzman, Jonathan (Author); Mello, Michael (Author); Brown University. Alpert Medical School. Scholarly Concentration Program. Non-Scholarly Concentrator (research program)
Subject:: Emergency medicine; Medical wastes; Medical wastes--Management; Hospitals--Waste disposal; Hazardous wastes--Auditing

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Abstract:: Background: Healthcare facilities generate significant amounts of waste. Inefficient and inaccurate disposal of healthcare waste increases hospitals’ cost for waste hauling and contributes significantly to the carbon footprint of healthcare. Objectives: (1) To quantify and describe waste generated by an Emergency Department (ED) (2) To identify deviations from waste policy and areas for waste diversion. Methods: A 24 hour waste audit of all Municipal Solid Waste, Regulated Medical Waste, and Recycling Waste in the ED of an urban, tertiary care academic medical center was conducted. All waste was then sorted into separate categories based on its predominant material and weighed. Results: 671.8 kg of waste was generated in the ED during our 24 hour collection period. 2.00 kg of waste was generated per patient. 64.6% of waste materials was plastic, 18.4% was paper derived products. Only 14.89% of the waste thrown in medical waste red bags was true medical waste. Several deviations from waste policy were identified, including loose sharps not placed in sharps containers, re-processable items that should have been diverted from waste, and Protected Health Information thrown in medical and solid waste. Over 200 unused items were identified. Conclusion: The ED generates significant amounts of waste. Current waste disposal practices in the ED reveal several opportunities for improvement to increase adherence to waste policy, reduce total waste generated, decrease hospital waste/supply costs, and reduce environmental impact
Notes:: Scholarly concentration: Non-Scholarly Concentrator

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Hsu, Sarah, Slutzman, Jonathan, and Mello, Michael, "Dumpster Diving in an Emergency Department: Quantities and Characteristics of ED Waste" (2019). Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:957182/

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Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium

The Warren Alpert Medical School Academic Symposium is an annual event at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University that provides Year II medical students a venue to present their summer research in a poster format. Participation in the Symposium …
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Dumpster Diving in an Emergency Department: Quantities and Characteristics of ED Waste