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Expanding Waste Segregation Initiatives to Reduce Regulated Medical Waste: A Multi-Departmental Quality Improvement
Emily M Su1, Anuja L Sarode1, Mohammed Sami1
1Summa Health System, Akron, Ohio.
Background:
Regulated medical waste (RMW) drives up health care costs, largely due to misclassification of general waste, especially in operating rooms (ORs), intensive care units (ICUs), and obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) departments. This study aimed to reduce RMW volume and costs at Akron City Hospital (ACH) through department-specific interventions aligning with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
Methods:
Periodic analyses compared hospital-wide aggregate RMW volume, pick-up frequency, and disposal costs before and after interventions. The ORs initiated interventions in October 2022, expanding to ICUs and OBGYN by February 2024. Strategies included staff education, flyers on red bag receptacles, and adjustments to container availability and size. Monthly data (January 2022 to June 2024) were analyzed using two-tailed heteroscedastic t-tests. Subsequently, an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used to forecast monthly weights from July to December 2024.
Results:
Monthly total RMW weights at ACH dropped from 56 366 lbs in 2022 to 45 148 lbs in 2023 and 37 017 lbs in early 2024 (P < .001). Variability declined, with standard deviation (SD) decreasing from 6177 lbs (2022) to 4062 lbs (2023) and a small increase in variability in early 2024 (SD increased from 4062 to 4366 lbs, non-significant). Seasonal reductions were sustained across quarters. Corresponding RMW disposal costs decreased from $175 189.51 (2022) to $140 321.18 (2023) and $57 528.17 (6-month cost, 2024). Time series predictive analytics indicated stable monthly weights, and anomaly detection confirmed improved consistency post-intervention.
Conclusion:
Department-specific interventions significantly reduced RMW volume and costs while enhancing sustainability. Tailored education and operational adjustments offer a scalable model for sustainable waste management in health care, addressing both financial and environmental challenges.
Insights
Implementing targeted interventions significantly reduced regulated medical waste (RMW) and associated costs in hospital departments. This study demonstrates a successful strategy for sustainable healthcare waste management.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Regulated medical waste (RMW) contributes significantly to healthcare expenses, often due to incorrect waste classification.
- Operating rooms (ORs), intensive care units (ICUs), and obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) departments are key areas for RMW misclassification.
- This study addresses RMW reduction and cost savings at Akron City Hospital (ACH) by implementing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To decrease the volume and associated costs of regulated medical waste (RMW) at Akron City Hospital (ACH).
- To implement and evaluate department-specific interventions for RMW management.
- To align waste management practices with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Periodic analyses compared hospital-wide RMW volume, pick-up frequency, and disposal costs before and after interventions.
- Interventions were rolled out department-specifically, starting with ORs in October 2022 and expanding to ICUs and OBGYN by February 2024.
- Strategies included staff education, informational flyers, and optimized container management, with data analyzed using t-tests and ARIMA modeling.
Main Results:
- Monthly RMW weights decreased significantly from 56,366 lbs in 2022 to 37,017 lbs in early 2024 (P < .001).
- RMW disposal costs saw a substantial reduction, falling from $175,189.51 in 2022 to $57,528.17 for the first six months of 2024.
- Time series analysis and anomaly detection confirmed improved consistency and stability in RMW weights post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- Department-specific interventions effectively reduced RMW volume and healthcare costs.
- The study highlights the success of tailored education and operational adjustments in sustainable waste management.
- This approach offers a scalable model for addressing financial and environmental challenges in healthcare waste management.
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