A new report from medical waste management company Stericycle finds widespread supplier and frontline burnout threatens supplier and patient safety. The report surveyed 500 healthcare professionals – 150 administrators and 350 clinicians. The study yielded five takeaways about patient, provider, community and environmental health.
Burnout Contributes to Great Resignations
In the third calendar year of the Covid-19 pandemic, 7 out of 10 suppliers were stressed and exhausted, while 71% said they felt Covid-19 threatened their safety in the workplace. Compared with views at the start of the pandemic, only 1 in 10 suppliers consider themselves heroes, the report said. Additionally, the report found that only one in five suppliers felt appreciated. Failure to act could lead to more worker departures and exacerbate current supplier shortages and mass resignations, the report said.
“There are many factors that affect healthcare provider burnout, some more severe than others, of course. While healthcare facilities may not be able to control fluctuations in Covid-19 cases or supply chain shortages, waste management can be controlled and implemented to protect their employees,” Stericycle Chief Commercial Officer Cory White said in an email. “In fact, our report found that 93% of providers believe that medical waste is an integral part of the day-to-day functioning of their medical practice and fundamental to maintaining a safe and effective workplace. Three quarters of providers say they are in the workplace This is something to be aware of and take action on when the negative impacts of the pandemic are being felt by the security of the people.”
Effective waste management is a must
The report found that nine in 10 providers and eight in 10 managers see medical waste management as key to delivering optimal patient care. Both groups said poor waste management contributed to the burnout and fatigue that the pandemic had exacerbated. More than half of providers and managers said they would like their organizations to increase funding and labor for proper biohazardous waste disposal.
“Medical waste management plays a vital role in everything healthcare providers do; it’s part of the ‘background’ of their day-to-day work,” White noted. “If 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.”
Promoting Green Choices
More than 94% of providers and 95% of managers surveyed said they agree that inappropriate disposal of biohazardous waste can adversely affect the environment. However, only 51% of suppliers say their organizations share sustainability goals. In contrast, according to the report, 71 percent of executives said they had already made such a goal. Additionally, the report found another disconnect between the two groups: Only 54% of suppliers believe their organization is mitigating environmental impacts through proper biohazard waste management, compared to 75%. Despite their different reports, both sides agreed that more needs to be done to support sustainable development efforts, the report said.
Safety issues facing home care
More and more care is provided outside of traditional care settings. In particular, more patients are receiving care at home, with more than 90 percent of providers saying they provide care beyond traditional care settings, the report said. Despite an increasing shift towards home care, 85% of suppliers say it is difficult to handle properly Biohazardous waste in home care settings, the report said. Additionally, 26% of providers who provide care in a home setting report that they do not know how to properly and safely dispose of biohazardous waste in such settings. The report attributes this to several factors: lack of logistical support, inadequate tools and regulations, lack of infrastructure, and lack of training.
In addition, the report explores provider and regulatory perceptions of patients’ disposal of medical waste at home. Notably, less than half of both groups believed that patients had the resources and tools to properly and safely dispose of their waste, according to the report.
Drug Waste Impacting the Opioid Crisis
The report said the majority of providers and administrators (56% and 60%, respectively) said mishandling of medications has affected the opioid crisis. Additionally, 72% of providers and 73% of administrators said Covid-19 had negatively impacted proper medication management, the report said. Both groups reported concerns about medication administration in home care settings, citing additional concerns about drugs falling into the wrong hands.
“Our report found that medical waste is also an issue for home care patients and providers. Healthcare facilities can offer or instruct patients to use a sharps return disposal option to help avoid public safety concerns and needlestick injuries,” White said. Say. “Organizations should also consider sharing details about consumer drug take-back programs, such as kiosks or mailing envelopes, to provide patients with better ways to dispose of unused drugs.”
report recommendations
The report recommends several steps, including leveraging appropriate medical waste management solutions to ease the burden on providers and provide a safer care environment. Second, the report encourages businesses to implement environmentally friendly waste solutions. Third, the report recommends ensuring that patients and providers in home care settings have proper access to safe medical waste management, such as sharps mailing options. Finally, the report encourages healthcare organizations to develop appropriate drug waste disposal solutions, such as drug recycling programs.
Photos: TarikVision, Getty Images; Graphics: Stericycle Report
