Dental offices usually don’t generate that much medical waste.
Like all health care providers, a dental office is obligated to manage their medical waste in compliance with local and federal laws. The regulations are very much alike for all health care facilities, however there are certain distinctions in disposal methods that a dental provider should be aware of, because of the fact that they don’t generate that much medical waste.
Your first step in regulated medical waste disposal, is the identification of potential medical waste that you are generating i.e. used syringes, used gauze etc. Once that has been separated from the common trash, you have to implement a plan for the safe removal and disposal of the medical waste. You typically have two options:
- Use a mail-back medical waste disposal method
- Medical waste pick up from a licensed contractor
You typically have two options for small quantity medical waste disposal.
Mail back medical waste disposal strategies can work with a smaller dental practice, yet even then there are many flaws which could leave you with a difficult time packaging and getting your mail-back system out the door for proper disposal. On top of that is the issue of paperwork, and written proof that your medical waste was disposed of correctly in an approved facility.
Not only is this a risky practice for dental offices in terms of potential fines, it is a time consuming one. You must train your employees on the proper methods for the collection of medical waste, and how to properly close, contain, and seal the mail-back system. Sometimes important parts get lost; like a label, or one of the small boxes. Certain agencies, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, will want to verify that such training is taking place inside of your dental office.
Going with a medical waste disposal company seems to make the most sense!
The second option, working with a licensed medical waste disposal company, can cover all of your obligations and save you time. MedWaste Management is able to not only train dental office employees, we study their activities to find effective solutions for collecting medical waste right where it is being generated. This includes the use of sharp containers and bio-hazard bags in a way that does not disrupt your routine patient care.
Not only can working with a medical waste disposal company save you money in potential fines, they save you valuable time. Companies like MedWaste Management will provide you with all of the necessary paperwork to prove compliance, alleviating you of this burdensome task. Without this mountain of paperwork to contend with, you’ll have more time on your hands to tend to patients and ensure quality health care.
With medical waste disposal for dental offices, the cheapest option is not always the most cost effective. You need to look at the entire scope of what is involved with proper medical waste disposal in order to make an informed choice on what is best for your dental practice.