Hooper D M
Shore Memorial Hospital, Somers Point, NJ.
Med Waste Anal. 1994 May;2(8):1, 3-5.
There are many new and exciting waste minimization programs being offered to healthcare facilities. Companies are now making reusable operating packs and gowns that are more efficient than disposables. The selling point is that the system will save healthcare money! The reusable programs do save disposal costs for an institution. Shore Memorial has scheduled a trial evaluation for reusable operating room linens to begin May 1, 1994. The concept has not been difficult to sell to physicians and staff. Perhaps this is because people are generally more aware of their environment and the reasons why it should be protected. The hospital will also be evaluating an IV bottle and bag recycling program. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Agency has given approval to proceed with this type of recycling program, and Shore Memorial is in the process of scheduling this trial program with a local vendor. Waste reduction and recycling in healthcare settings will continue to be challenging because of the diversity of the wastestream and the changing environment facing healthcare. Certainly, healthcare has as much of a responsibility to the well-being of patients as it does to keeping the environment healthy. Returning to the "old way" of doing things, such as reusables, does not have a negative impact on people, but it does have an impact on the environment. Shore Memorial believes it is moving in the right direction with its waste minimization program to make a positive environmental impact.
现在有许多新颖且令人兴奋的减少医疗废物项目提供给医疗机构。企业如今正在生产可重复使用的手术包和手术服，它们比一次性用品更高效。卖点在于该系统将为医疗行业节省资金！可重复使用项目确实为机构节省了处置成本。肖尔纪念医院已安排对可重复使用的手术室床单进行试验评估，于1994年5月1日开始。这个概念向医生和工作人员推销起来并不困难。也许这是因为人们普遍更加关注自身环境以及保护环境的原因。该医院还将评估静脉输液瓶和输液袋回收项目。新泽西州环境保护局已批准开展此类回收项目，肖尔纪念医院正在与当地一家供应商安排这个试验项目。由于医疗废物种类繁多以及医疗行业面临不断变化的环境，在医疗机构中减少废物和进行回收利用仍将具有挑战性。当然，医疗行业对患者福祉的责任与保持环境健康的责任同样重大。回归诸如使用可重复使用物品这样的“老方法”，对人没有负面影响，但对环境有影响。肖尔纪念医院认为其减少医疗废物项目正朝着正确方向发展，将对环境产生积极影响。
