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Medical waste disposal is a crucial part of any Georgia healthcare practice. Whether you’re a general practitioner, specialist, or pharmacist, there are several crucial steps you need to take to protect your patients and your practice.
Now is the perfect time to examine your medical waste management plan to spot any potentially dangerous gaps. Failing to remain compliant with local, Georgia state, and federal medical waste regulations opens your practice up to potential fines, lawsuits, and reputation damage. Let’s review several of the top areas to review so you can keep your practice safe and responsible.
01 / Review Your Georgia Medical Waste Management Plan
Every doctor's office or pharmacy needs a detailed waste management plan. It’s an essential roadmap and guide that directs your business in how to maintain compliance with all applicable regulations.
Without a well-structured plan, medical facilities risk facing significant fines or even potential shutdowns due to improper waste disposal practices. A comprehensive waste management plan not only ensures that all legal requirements are met but also streamlines the process, helping your staff understand the correct procedures for disposing of medical waste efficiently and safely.
Having a clearly stated plan not only protects your office from legal repercussions but also supports an organized and effective working environment.
02 / Work with a Full-Service Waste Management Company
Medical waste regulations can be quite complex, especially when your practice needs to adhere to Georgia rules as well as those of your local area and the federal requirements. Working with a comprehensive waste management service provider offers significant advantages for medical facilities, from small general practices to hospitals and pharmacies, by streamlining operations and ensuring full compliance with regulations.
A full-service Georgia waste management company will provide a complete range of essential services, such as OSHA compliance training, document destruction, pharmaceutical waste disposal, and the removal of hazardous and nonhazardous waste.
Partnering with a full-service provider eliminates the need for you to have to coordinate with multiple vendors, allowing for a more adaptable and efficient approach to managing your facility's waste and compliance needs. This not only simplifies the process but also ensures consistent, high-quality service across all aspects of waste management.
03 / Make Sure You’re Getting the Most From Your Waste Management Service
The first step in attaining waste management compliance in Georgia and putting your medical waste plan into action comes when you begin the process of choosing from a number of waste management companies in Georgia. It's crucial to prioritize strong customer service, as it directly impacts the efficiency and compliance of your operations. You’ll want a provider that offers timely communication, reliable waste pick-up, and ongoing guidance on industry regulations, to fully support your practice.
Don’t make the mistake of looking simply at the costs, because a medical waste service is far more involved that simply “taking away trash.” The health of your practice directly depends on the company you choose so it’s better to look at the full value of a service rather than simply the price tag.
It’s important to make certain the company you choose is fully insured, permitted, and trained to handle the specific types of waste your office generates. This is essential for maintaining compliance and avoiding potential liabilities. Finally, research the company's history for any significant or recent violations to filter out companies you wouldn’t want to work with.
04 / Check That You’re Getting Everything You Need in Your Waste Management Contract
Speaking of costs, there are some strategies that can help you make sure you’re getting the most from your waste provider. Take a deep dive into any waste management contract before you sign it. You want to make sure you avoid common pitfalls that doctors' offices commonly encounter, such as overpaying, long-term commitments, and hefty early termination fees.
It may be in your best interest to opt for a service agreement instead as this can offer greater flexibility and potentially better pricing. If you're thinking about making a switch, be sure to know the renewal date of your current contract to avoid automatic renewals and ensure you're making the best decision for your practice.
05 / Keep in the Loop with Your Waste Management Provider
Once you have found a quality provider, it’s important to stay in communication with this team. If your waste needs grow or change, you’ll want to inform your waste management provider so that they can assess whether changes to your service need to be made for your practice to remain compliant. Remember, as the generator of the waste, the responsibility for proper waste lies with your practice, even when you use a third-party service. That’s why it’s essential to keep in contact and be fully transparent with your waste management company.
06 / Prioritize Continual Training and Education
It’s not enough to simply create a waste plan and find a waste management partner to handle it. What happens on a daily basis inside your facility is just as important. Your staff is on the frontline of your practice’s activities and can make or break even the most comprehensive waste plan. Regular OSHA compliance training for all employees should always be an essential part of any waste plan.
Even if new employees come with prior certification, retraining them ensures there are no gaps in knowledge and that your practice remains consistent with the latest regulations. Continuous education on proper storage and shipping requirements for medical waste is also crucial because such regulations can evolve, making ongoing staff training a necessity.
07 / Stay Safe with Sharps
Doctor’s offices and pharmacies often provide vaccines and other types of services which generate sharps waste. Biohazardous waste, such as sharps and blood-contaminated items, must be contained in puncture-resistant sharps containers and designated red bags. It's crucial to remember that other types of waste such as expired medications should never be disposed of in red bags. Such mistakes can lead to unnecessary disposal costs. That’s why it’s crucial to train staff on sharps disposal safety. A comprehensive waste service can help with this process and ensure you’re minimizing risks and doing all that you can to keep staff, patients, and the public safe from sharps and other biohazardous waste.
08 / Understand the Risks of Expired Pharmaceuticals
In addition to sharps and contaminated materials, pharmacies and doctor’s offices also frequently need to dispose of expired pharmaceuticals. One option often utilized by pharmacies which handle a large volume of medication is reverse distribution services. These reverse distributors accept expired medication in an effort to resell in developing markets. But they are not waste management companies and do not protect you from compliance issues. In addition, reverse distributors should only accept medication in good condition and most of the time a Georgia pharmacy will still need to use a waste service provider for at least a portion of its expired medication disposal.
Georgia pharmacies should partner with a reputable pharmaceutical waste disposal service because in order to maintain EPA and RCRA compliance in Georgia, you may be asked for documentation of your waste disposal practices. And since your pharmacy (or doctor’s office) has cradle to grave liability, this means your business is responsible for the safe handling of waste as soon as it’s generated to when it reaches its final destination; this includes both biohazardous waste disposal and expired medication.
Pharmacies are always liable for their waste, even when utilizing third parties like reverse distributors or waste management companies. Proper documentation, such as return receipts and hazardous waste manifests, is crucial for tracking and managing liability. Proper waste segregation — such as D-listed, U-listed, and P-listed (acutely hazardous) waste — can prevent a pharmacy from being classified as a large quantity generator, helping to avoid extra paperwork, taxes, and fines.
Working with a reputable waste management company ensures compliance, proper segregation of waste, and can save the pharmacy from unnecessary costs. Continuous education on storage and shipping requirements for medical waste is essential to maintaining compliance.
Proper Waste Disposal in Georgia
As you can see, there are many steps to ensuring proper waste disposal in any healthcare setting in Georgia. Whether you’re a small general practice in Georgia, a busy Georgia pharmacy or a full-service hospital, it’s important to find a treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facility in Georgia that covers all of your waste needs.
When selecting a medical waste management company, ensure that they are permitted and insured to handle the specific type of waste your practice generates. This includes verifying that their permits are valid for Georgia and making certain they are responsive to your needs. With the right waste management partner, you can be reassured knowing your practice is safe and your staff and patients are protected as well.
Robert Losurdo
President, COO
