When selecting a medical waste management partner – or evaluating your current provider – there are many factors to consider. Choosing the right partner is critical to your compliance with waste regulations, protecting staff and the environment, maintaining cost efficiency, and avoiding financial penalties.
Below are three essential questions to help you identify the best medical waste management partner for your healthcare facility.
- Does the Medical Waste Management Partner Have Expertise with Regulations?
There are several regulatory bodies that oversee the disposal of biomedical waste and, depending on the agency, their focus varies, which can make compliance complex. A knowledgeable partner should be well-versed in regulations from Health Canada, Environment Canada, Provincial Environment Ministries, the Canada Labour Code, and Provincial Labour Ministries. Partners should know local, provincial, and federal regulations.
- Does the Medical Waste Management Partner Provide a Complete Solution?
While several companies provide a pickup service, a fully integrated company that handles waste from collection to treatment and disposal may be able to provide a higher degree of safety and compliance. Full-service medical waste management companies should be flexible enough to meet your healthcare facility’s changing needs, such as adding extra pickup days or handling different types of waste. Your provider should also offer compliant containers for different medical waste streams and offer end-to-end waste-management solutions. Other key services to look for include:
Medical Waste Training: Training improves safety and compliance. Stericycle can be your strategic waste management partner in training, working with you to deliver up-to-date educational tools and resources. Stericycle’s online trainings and resources provide healthcare staff with an assortment of online courses covering WHMIS, medical waste disposal, and Transportation of Dangerous Goods overview, and bloodborne pathogens awareness training. The online tools also record when the training is completed, allowing organizations to track completion and compliance.
Manifests and Shipping Papers: Your medical waste management partner should provide a manifest or shipping paper for all waste shipments. Where available, electronic movement documents should be used. Your partner should ensure that these documents are completed and distributed as required to maintain compliance.
Disaster Planning and Emergency Preparedness: A reliable partner should have disaster recovery and contingency plans in place to prevent waste accumulation during emergencies. Working with a service provider, such as Stericycle, which has a nationwide footprint, an extensive truck fleet, responsive team members, and open customer communication, ensures healthcare organizations receive uninterrupted service, even during uncertain times.
- Does the RMW Management Partner Share Their Experience and Expertise?
A strong waste management partner helps your facility stay compliant and decrease employee risk. Look for a partner that provides:
Waste Segregation Training: It’s essential for organizations to provide regular training and education on how to segregate waste and the importance of doing so. Waste segregation can be challenging, but partnering with a knowledgeable waste management provider can help establish a waste segregation program that aligns with state and local regulations.
Learn more about how Stericycle’s comprehensive solutions can help your healthcare facility manage medical waste effectively.
