Bag to Bedside waste optimisation
Sharpsmart’s simple solution for the removal of infectious and offensive wastes from patient wards, is designed to provide point-of-care disposal and optimise staff efficiency. Through blended learning, and colour coded labelling, segregation has never been so easy.
Interrupting human behaviour
In the split second you have to decide “which bin to put it in”, segregation mistakes can easily be made. When speed and focus on patient care is the number priority, we have to make it easy for clinicians to make the right waste disposal choice. Our solutions are designed to dramatically reduce segregation error, reducing costs of incorrectly disposed non-conforming waste and increasing compliance with HTM 07-01.
Waste bags & containers at the point of use
One of the greatest inhibitors to segregation effectiveness is location and distance. If the correct containment is not accessible at the point of disposal, the waste usually goes into ‘the closest bin’. Having bags and containers accessible at patient bedside where waste is generated gives clinical staff confidence to deposit waste into the most appropriate waste stream without taking the lowest risk approach.
Innovation that supports mobility
It’s just not practical to “walk down the hallway to the soiled utility room” after every procedure; waste management needs to live within the ward at the intersection of patient care. Our range of trolleys, bag holders and accessories enable waste to be disposed of at the time of procedure, minimising risk to healthcare staff in sharps or waste relocation, and optimising labour efficiency through point-of-care disposal.
Different colours. Different Waste Streams
In a glance… it has to be easy for nursing staff! Every waste stream has a distinct compliance, environmental and safety impact, it needs to be very clear in the blink of an eye “which bag does it belong in”. We ensure that the bags provided for each unique waste stream have a distinct colour code that is easily identified.
Eliminating other waste disposal options
A core component of our waste mapping processes is determining a clear pathway correct segregation. The reality is, if you eliminate alternative options, you will naturally guide users towards the optimum disposal methodology. It’s important that clinical waste bins are removed from the patient environment, minimising the opportunity of non-compliant segregation.
Education that drives results
Containers + Colour coded bags + point of use education… the three components together drive segregation success. The Bag to Bedside system is supported by clear picture-illustrative educational posters and labels that provide clear instruction on waste segregation protocols. Education is customised according to facility and waste types generated ensuring it directly supports the education needs of clinical staff.
E-Learning for Continuous Improvement
Ongoing training is offered via a blended learning programme, educating clinical staff on waste categorisation and comprehensive assessment tests. Our five-step methodology training educates users on clear steps to safe and effective segregation and the most efficient means of compliantly managing different waste streams.
Reduce costs as much as 20%
Bag to Bedside drives significant reductions in costs and waste volumes
Industry averages in UK healthcare suggest that as much as 50% of waste consigned as clinical waste is made up of either general or offensive waste. The financial implications of diverting this non-clinical waste constitutes as much as 20% of a hospital’s entire clinical waste budget.
Higher Efficiency
Comprising a range of bespoke components and blended learning tools, including bag dispensers and waste labels, the Bag to Bedside solution is designed to promote higher levels of correct segregation efficiency.
Clinical and offensive waste bins are removed from the ward and a bag system is put in place to collect waste at the point of generation, thereby significantly reducing the risk of cross contamination to the patient environment. Each bag dispenser is supported by illustrative and colour-coded waste segregation posters, ensuring that staff are able to clearly distinguish waste stream requirements by colour and waste description.
“We’ve seen a 20% waste reduction…”
The introduction of the Bag to Bedside system has not only created a cleaner ward environment and more pleasurable patient experience, it has ensured that we have made significant reductions in both waste treatment costs and clinical waste output. Initial estimates following rollout show that we have diverted close to 50% of orange bag waste to the offensive and domestic waste streams, which has resulted in a 20% reduction in our costs for these waste streams.
Jeff Trevor, Waste Manager
University Hospitals of the North Midlands NHS Trust
Let’s Talk!
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