Even before the most recent COVID-19 spike, the Healthcare Workplace Safety Trend Report discovered that nearly three-quarters of healthcare providers are worn out and exhausted as a result of the pandemic, which has increased day-to-day stress levels. This finding was made before the most recent COVID-19 spike. The research cites the implementation of a waste management system and standards as one method by which hospitals may provide support for their personnel and contribute to the reduction of pressures in the healthcare environment.
More than ninety per cent of the healthcare practitioners and administrators who were polled felt that proper management of clinical waste collection is essential to ensuring that the workplace remains both safe and productive. More than half of the respondents to a survey of healthcare providers and administrators stated that their organisations need to make additional investments in waste disposal resources. This is even though almost all respondents agreed that effective medical waste management is essential to the delivery of high-quality care.
The Extra Work Involved When Working with Several Different Suppliers of Medical Waste
There are a variety of reasons why healthcare organisations might find themselves collaborating with more than one medical waste management service provider. Some of these reasons include the pursuit of cost reductions, the acquisition of new sites or system mergers, and other organisational changes that influence the procurement of medical waste management providers.
This can incrementally increase the burden on healthcare administrators and frontline staff, such as nursing and environmental service teams, by increasing the number of vendor contacts, which can result in inconsistent waste processes and equipment, and it also requires comprehension of a variety of training and educational materials. When developing protocols for the management of medical waste, it is essential to have an understanding of how the use of multiple waste partners can increase the amount of pressure placed on staff, as well as how the use of a single service provider can assist in simplifying and relieving that pressure.
The Downside of Collaborating With Multiple Waste Vendors
Medical waste management policies and procedures may have an effect not only on the health of patients but also on the well-being of the medical personnel who care for them. This is not the most pressing problem that has to be solved to reduce burnout among healthcare workers. When one contracts numerous suppliers to control waste in the healthcare industry, this might result in a reduction in the amount of time that staff members have available to devote to other important activities.
Less efficient
The usage of several suppliers for clinical waste bin collection can lead to inefficiencies, which in turn produces unneeded stress for staff members. The administrative professionals working for the health system may need to build and monitor different sets of KPIs, do their job through a variety of customer service portals, interact with a large number of waste provider contacts, and handle invoicing from many suppliers.
Because of these inefficiencies, even the simplest of jobs might end up being more difficult and time-consuming.
Not sustainable
If an organisation works with more than one partner for clinical waste services, this may result in an increased number of trucks being utilised for the transportation of waste, which, in turn, may have an effect on the company’s overall carbon footprint. Consolidating one’s service providers is one strategy that might assist a company in lowering its overall carbon footprint.
According to the findings of our analysis, the majority of healthcare employees polled place a high priority on minimising the environmental effect of their business.
Heightened risks to health and safety
When working with numerous partners to dispose of medical waste, healthcare staff are required to handle various disposal processes in addition to handling hectic schedules and providing care to patients. In a setting that demands one’s full concentration and attention, having waste procedures, training, and inconsistent teaching materials offers more opportunities for mistakes, which may risk the safety of both personnel and patients.
How Trikon Clinical Waste Services Can Help Improve Business Operations
A healthcare institution may experience a variety of effects as a result of the use of numerous medical waste management service providers. It may result in an increase in the carbon footprint of the healthcare organisation, result in an increase in the amount of time that physicians and administrators need to spend on chores connected to waste management, and it can possibly put the safety of both providers and patients at risk.
However, consolidating medical waste operations with one service provider, such as TCW, may assist boost efficiency throughout a whole healthcare organisation, therefore helping to minimise stress not just for employees who directly handle medical waste but also for those who work in business operations.
Only One Point of Contact is Needed.
It is possible to make the process of waste management more straightforward for doctors, managers, and other healthcare professionals by using a single source for all of your medical waste service needs. Administrators who work for TCW have access to our web portal around the clock, which allows them to schedule pickups, retrieve shipping paperwork, and have access to instructional materials.
We provide a centralised point of contact for all enquiries, which is our locally-based account management service. The fact that healthcare practitioners only need to remember one set of waste acceptance protocols also saves them time.
Sustainability
If a single medical waste supplier is used, there will be fewer journeys made to and from the facility by delivery trucks, which will result in a smaller carbon footprint for the business.
Reliability
More than 95% of postcodes in the UK are covered by the Trikon Clinical Waste network at the present time. Because TCW provides a custom clinical waste solution, medical personnel are free to concentrate on providing quality treatment to patients rather than fretting about schedule conflicts caused by unexpectedly high amounts of medical waste or other urgent situations.
