Medical Waste Disposal Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City (OKC) is the largest, most populated city in the state and home to over 600,000 “Okies”. The city embraces its rugged Western past and to this day still celebrates its rich cowboy culture that makes it the “Horse Show Capital of the World”. Oklahoma means, “Land of the Red People” in the Choctaw Language and OKC has a diverse Native American population. The city is home to over 60 tribes and ever year hosts the Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival.

The Oklahoma Health Improvement Plan, initiated in 2010, focuses on making improvements in key strategic areas and creating a culture of health. Their goal is to help Oklahomans live healthier, happier and longer lives. With that emphasis on ensuring the health and safety of Oklahomans, the state is now one of 26 states covered entirely by the federal OSHA program for the handling, management and disposal of medical waste.

Medical Waste Disposal Oklahoma City, OK

Medical waste disposal in OKC is regulated by several state agencies. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality defines and manages medical waste regulations and hospital standards are maintained by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.  Regulated medical waste is defined as a waste or reusable material that contains an “etiologic agent” and is generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals. The term “etiologic agent” is not seen in many other state definitions, but essentially refers to any infectious substance.

Regulated medical waste includes, but is not limited to:

• Human blood, blood products, and human body fluids – such as used blood collection bags, tubes and vials
• Pathological wastes – such human tissues, organs, and body parts removed during surgery
• Untreated sharps – such as used IV cannula
• Contaminated carcasses – such as animal body parts. This includes bedding of animals intentionally exposed to pathogens in research.
• Products contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids – such as blood soaked bandages. Bodily fluids do not include feces and urine.

Hospital Standards

Oklahoma City hospitals are bound by the Oklahoma State Department of Health hospital standards. This broad set of regulations ensures that each hospital has an infection control policy in order to maintain a sanitary environment and avoid sources and transmission of infections. Hospital programs must include written policies and procedures for identifying and reporting all infections among patients and staff. They must include procedures to ensure that isolation and sanitation techniques are reviewed and kept up to date. All hospital personnel must be trained in infection control practices and their training documented.

The standards also require that the infection control program include specific policies related to the handling of biohazard waste disposal. Although no specific guidance is provided, the state operates under the federal OSHA program.

It’s OK To Be Confused

Treating It Properly

In early 2015, a disturbing discovery of syringes, needles and vials of blood washed up on to the shore along the Arkansas River. The medical waste had been found scattered on various banks between Ralston and Cleveland, and the biohazardous material may have come from a Tulsa hospital. Incidents like these highlight the need treat and dispose of medical waste properly to ensure it no longer poses a risk to the environment or local population.

Regulated medical waste must be treated using one of the following methods:

• Incineration – in an incinerator that is designed for the destruction of regulated medical waste. Incinerators use extremely high temperatures to kill bacteria. At such high temperatures, no bacteria are able to survive and the items are deemed safe for recycling or disposal.
• Microwave sterilization – or steam sterilization, use high temperature and pressure to achieve microbial inactivation.
• Chemical disinfection – where contact time, concentration and quantity of the disinfectant are sufficient to consistently achieve microbial inactivation.

Incinerators are almost always required for the destruction of pathological waste, but they are large and expensive pieces of equipment. In Oklahoma City two or more nearby hospitals may share incinerators, but healthcare facilities usually make arrangements with licensed medical waste disposal companies who collect the waste and take it away for disposal.

Let MedPro Disposal Relieve Your Disposal Stress

Medical waste disposal is not an easy job, but here at MedPro Disposal, Oklahoma City, it’s what we do. We can provide you with a flexible pick-up and disposal schedule that is customized to your needs. We offer a reliable, yet low cost alternative to other companies and our specialist disposal experts will never sign you up for more services than you need.

Proper waste disposal can be a stressful concern, but it doesn’t need to be. Our reputation in OKC has been built on our unparalleled customer and we will work with your organization to create a customized plan that will relieve you of this worry. Our OSHA employee training will make sure your staff know what they are doing and ensure waste is disposed of safely at your facilities. Whatever your requirements, MedPro Disposal is ready to deliver.