We're talking putting IV bags in zip lock bags and throwing them in black containers. Is your chux fully saturated or partially saturated with blood, it makes a difference where it goes. Putting drugs down sewers. Syringes with needles with part of the drug still there goes into something called the dual sharp container. There are 15 drugs that are hazardous and by penalty of death need to go into the black can.
I think the waste containers are having babies. Every year there seem to be more of them. Pretty soon they are going to take over the hospital.
Me, I think we need a trash coordinator. You set up a room where they sit. You present them with your trash and they put it in the proper receptacle.
I propose this person also be a part time commode locator. Apparently, per those rocket scientists at JCAHO, commodes can no long be kept in the soiled utility room. Why not? Commodes are considered "clean" so they can't be kept in a "dirty" environment. Okay...so now we have to find different places to put them around the department.
This, my friends, is the modern healthcare system. We spend more time locating trash cans and commodes then we do taking care of patients.
