Document Detail


Reducing medical waste.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20510944     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Medical waste is a necessary by-product of any hospital environment; however, the majority of regulated medical waste is produced in the OR from the use of disposable surgical supplies (eg, drapes, gowns, basins, gloves, sponges). We conducted a concept comparison project in the ORs of two large medical centers in Bethesda, Maryland, and Washington, DC, to evaluate the effects of using reusable surgical basins, gowns, and table and Mayo stand covers in place of disposable products. Survey results indicated that surgeons and surgical technologists found the reusable products to be preferable to the disposable products currently in use. In addition, using reusable products provided a means to decrease regulated medical waste generated in the OR by an average of 65% as well as reduce the cost of waste disposal. AORN recommends evaluating the environmental effects of using reusable, reposable, and disposable products; our findings provide evidence that may be useful to surgical facilities that seek to adopt a "green" approach.
Authors:
Julie Conrardy; Mary Hillanbrand; Sandra Myers; George F Nussbaum
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Evaluation Studies; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  AORN journal     Volume:  91     ISSN:  1878-0369     ISO Abbreviation:  AORN J     Publication Date:  2010 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-05-31     Completed Date:  2010-09-17     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0372403     Medline TA:  AORN J     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  711-21     Citation Subset:  IM; N    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2010 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Surgical Specialties School, Naval School of Health Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Attitude of Health Personnel
Bedding and Linens / statistics & numerical data
Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
Cost Savings
Disposable Equipment* / statistics & numerical data
District of Columbia
Durable Medical Equipment / statistics & numerical data
Equipment Reuse* / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Inventories, Hospital / organization & administration
Maryland
Medical Waste / prevention & control*,  statistics & numerical data
Nursing Evaluation Research
Operating Room Nursing / organization & administration
Operating Rooms / organization & administration*
Protective Clothing / supply & distribution
Questionnaires
Refuse Disposal / methods,  statistics & numerical data
Surgical Equipment* / statistics & numerical data
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Medical Waste

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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