An Educational Intervention to Reduce Regulated Medical Waste: The Inpatient Medicine and Outpatient Dermatology Settings.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Improving regulated medical waste (RMW) management is crucial for enhancing planetary health and cost savings. We sought to assess an educational intervention on clinical staff understanding and behavior regarding RMW management.

Methods

This two-month (2023-2024) controlled, prospective educational intervention at the University of Pennsylvania Health System surveyed healthcare workers, including physicians, nurses, and medical assistants, from four inpatient medicine floors and two dermatology clinics. Half of the medicine and dermatology settings were controls. The intervention included in-person staff training sessions and printed materials (posters, bin stickers) describing waste segregation and RMW's environmental, health, and cost impacts. A deidentified on

SUBMITTER: Silva GS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12008608 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature