If you are in need of medical waste removal, you are very likely looking into your local medical waste disposal companies to find the one that can help with your waste management. Like any industry, however, you never want to go with the first company you come across. Rather, you want to get several quotes to determine which company can offer the best value. As you're assessing these quotes, there are five things to watch for.
Medical Waste Quote: 5 Things You Should Look For
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A Medical Waste Quote Should Be Free
It's industry standard that a medical waste quote comes free of charge. If a medical waste disposal company is looking to charge you for this, that's a potential red flag that the company is looking to nickel and dime you in other ways as well.
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A Medical Waste Management Company Should Provide a Quote That's Commensurate with Experience
The medical waste disposal industry is a complicated, ever-changing business, and you want to work with a company that's well versed in all those intricate rules, laws, and medical waste regulations.
As with any business, however, you have to pay for quality. When you get a company's quote, make sure to also find out how many years that company has been offering medical waste services. This will help you determine if the quoted price seems reasonable based on the number of years they've been operating and the kind of service you can expect from them.
Remember, medical waste disposal cost isn't all about the final number; it's about value. If that company has tremendous customer service and can get your pressing questions answered, that could save you time and, by association, money. If the company follows medical waste management regulations to the letter, that could save you from extremely sizable fines.
So, remember, it's about a lot more than just the final number on your quote.
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You Should Know What Kind of Insurance Comes with the Company and Its Quote
Being new to the industry doesn't automatically mean you should dismiss that medical waste disposal company. However, if they are not fully and legally licensed, insured, and permitted to deal with your medical waste pick up, that is absolutely grounds for not choosing that company.
The insurance necessary for a medical waste pickup is going to be less than for hazardous materials, though, so take that into account when comparing insurance coverage between multiple medical waste management companies.
That being said, it never hurts for your chosen company to have more insurance than you think necessary. Especially if you ever need to dispose of hazardous material (in addition to your medical waste), you know the company you've chosen is insured to handle that.
If the company you're dealing with isn't the end disposal facility for your waste, ensure their third-party partners are also adequately permitted, insured, and trained.
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The Company Should Be Explicit about What the Quote Entails
After you receive a quote for the disposal of medical waste generated at your facility, you should know exactly what that quote covers. Specifically, you should know answers to the following questions:
- How often will the company pick up your waste?
- How much waste will they pick up for the quoted price?
- What type of waste will they pick up for the quoted price?
If you produce either trace chemotherapy waste or pathological waste at your medical facility, make sure the quote accounts for that, as these categories of waste require some special handling.
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The Company Should Be Willing to Meet in Person
Officer managers at medical facilities are notoriously busy, so the company should be flexible enough to work around that manager's schedule. If the manager wants to get a quote over the phone, the company should be able to accommodate. If the manager thinks it best to meet in person at the site, the company should be equally willing and able to comply with this request.
It's definitely not unusual to do a quote over the phone, but if anyone in the medical waste industry refuses to meet in person, that's another potential red flag.
Other Questions to Ask Your Waste Management Company
If you're considering a particular company after receiving a quote, make sure to also ask the following questions:
- Have your drivers and employees undergone proper training?
- Can you provide multiple references?
- Are you a full-service company with other offerings, such as pharmaceutical waste management, OSHA training, document shredding, and more?
For more information about what your medical waste quote should involve or to get an actual quote now, reach out to a representative of MCF Environmental Services today!
