一份来自医疗废物管理公司的Stericycle的新报告，发现广泛的提供者和前线倦怠威胁到提供者和患者的安全。该报告调查了500个医疗保健专业人员 - 150名管理员和350名临床医生。有关患者，提供者，社区和环境的健康的研究中出现了五个外卖。

Burnout有助于大辞职

进入日历年度的Covid-19大流行病，10个提供者中有7个受到压力和烧毁，而71％的人报告的感觉Covid-19在工作场所威胁其安全。根据该报告，20个提供者中只有1人认为自己是英雄，与大流行开始的观点相反。此外，报告发现，只有5个提供者只有1个提供赞赏。根据该报告，未能造成更多工人留下其职位并加剧当前的提供商短缺和大辞职。

“There are many factors impacting healthcare provider burnout, and certainly, some are more acute than others. While healthcare organizations may not be able to control Covid-19 case fluctuations or supply chain shortages, waste management is something that can be controlled and implemented to safeguard their staff,” said Cory White, chief commercial officer,Stericycle in an email. “In fact, our report found that 93% of providers believe medical waste is an integral element to the day-to-day function of their medical practices and is foundational to maintaining a safe and effective workplace. At a time when 3 in 4 providers indicate their sense of safety in the workplace has been negatively impacted by the pandemic, this is something to be aware of and to act on.”

Effective waste management a must

该报告发现10个提供商中的九个和10个管理员中的八个将医疗废物管理视为提供最佳患者护理的关键。两组都表明，不正当的废物管理导致大流行已经加剧的倦怠和疲劳。超过一半的提供商和管理人员表示希望他们的组织增加资金和劳动力，以获得适当的生物危害废物处理。

“Medical waste management plays a critical role in everything a healthcare provider does; it is part of the ‘backdrop’ of their everyday work,” White noted. “When it’s done poorly, waste management can be time-consuming, confusing, distracting and most importantly, unsafe. Proper waste management, on the other hand, makes providers feel safer and more efficient, so they can focus on what matters most: caring for patients.”

Push for environmentally friendly options

超过94％的提供商和95％的管理人员调查说，他们同意不恰当的生物危害废物处理会对环境产生不利影响。但是，只有51％的提供商表示，他们的组织共享可持续发展目标。相比之下，71％的管理人员报告说，根据该报告，他们已经说明了这样的目标。同样，这份报告发现两组之间的另一个断开连接：只有54％的提供商觉得他们的组织通过适当的生物危害废物管理来减轻环境影响，而75％的提供商认为这一目标是如此。据该报告称，尽管报告不同的报告，但都需要努力支持可持续性努力。

Safety issues facing at-home care

在传统的护理环境之外越来越关心。特别是，更多的患者在他们家中受到护理，该报告称，超过90％的供应商陈述了他们提供超越传统护理环境的护理。尽管转向家庭护理，但85％的提供商报告难以妥善处理困难of biohazardous waste in at-home care settings, the report said. Further, 26% of providers offering care in at-home settings reported they were unclear on how to properly dispose of biohazardous waste safely in such settings.该报告将这归因于几个因素：缺乏后勤支持，工具和法规不足，缺少基础设施以及缺乏培训。

Additionally, the report explored providers’ and administrations’ views of patients’ disposal of medical waste in at-home settings. Of note, less than half of both groups felt patients had the resources and tools to dispose of waste properly and safely, according to the report.

Pharmaceutical waste impacting the opioid crisis

据该报告称，大多数提供者和管理人员（分别为56％和60％）表示，药物的处置不当影响。此外，72％的提供商和73％的管理人员表示，该报告称，Covid-19对药物管理的适当影响受到负面影响。两组均涉及在家庭护理环境中的药物管理担忧，引用了药物进入错误的手的额外问题。

“Our report found that medical waste is also an issue for at-home care patients and providers. Healthcare organizations can offer or direct patients to sharps mail-back disposal options to help avoid a public safety hazard and the risk of needlestick injuries,” White said. “Organizations should also consider sharing details about consumer drug takeback programs, such as kiosks or mail back envelopes, that provide patients with a better way to dispose of unused medications.”

Report recommendations

The report recommends several steps including utilizing proper medical waste management solutions to lessen the burden on providers and to provide a safer care environment. Second, the report encourages companies to implement environmentally friendly waste solutions. Third, the report recommends ensuring proper access to safe medical waste management for patients and providers in home-care settings, such as sharps mail back options. Finally, the report encourages healthcare organizations to develop proper pharmaceutical waste disposal solutions, such as drug take back programs.

Photo: TarikVision, Getty Images; Graphs: Stericycle report