Health

Biomedical Waste Management in North Carolina

November 26, 2024

Raleigh junk disposal

What is Biomedical Waste

Biomedical waste is also referred as “medical waste, infectious waste or biowaste” They can be defined as any waste generating during the diagnosis, the treatment or immunization of human beings or animals waste generated during the research activities that can potentially contaminate individuals. Such waste must be disposed of by professional junk disposal services.

Management of biomedical waste is very important to protect the public and environment from the consequences of exposure to potential hazards. The U.S. has no single set of rules dictating how biomedical waste should be managed, though it has a detailed federal framework that states can adopt.

Types of Biomedical Waste

Biomedical waste includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Sharps: Needles, syringes, scalpels and other objects that are sharp enough to puncture or cut skin
  • Infectious Waste: Items or material soiled by infectious agents like bloodied wipes, cultures, swabs, etc
  • Pathological waste: Body parts, organs, and human tissue
  • Pharmaceutical products: Expired or unused medications and vaccines
  • Chemical: Disinfectants, solvents, laboratory reagents

Radioactive Waste is that waste which is from different medical imaging or cancer treatments, like radioactive isotopes.

Each category needs to be handled, treated, and disposed of in specific way to limit risks.

Federal Framework

Biomedical waste management activities in the US is federally regulated, with federal laws and regulations providing baseline standards. Important federal agencies include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): The EPA regulates certain hazardous components of biomedical waste under RCRA, including chemical and pharmaceutical wastes.

OSHA Bloodbourne Pathogen Standard: OSHA governs the safety of the workplace, how we handle material that can be contaminated with infectious agents.

Biochemical State DOT Regulations: The DOT regulates the transportation of biohazardous medical waste, ensuring the proper labeling, packaging and documentation is accurate to prevent any incidents and accidents during transportation.

Although these agencies provide standards at the macro level, states like North Carolina are accountable for enacting and enforcing specific biomedical waste management regulations.

North Carolina Regulations

Biomedical waste management regulations each state creates on the basis of federal guidelines (EPA and Department of Health). State health and environmental protection agencies usually take the lead on biomedical waste disposal. For example:

North Carolina stringently regulates medical waste management under the Medical Waste Management Act, with segregation and treatment mandates. Companies dealing with biomedical waste register with the state through its Biomedical Waste Program, which requires facility registration, training and inspections. Certain types of waste require specific treatment technologies, e.g., autoclaving or incineration.

States also set penalties for noncompliance, including fines and suspensions of operations.

Segregation and Storage

Segregation of biomedical waste is one of the fundamental aspects of biomedical waste management. This Waste is segregated at the source for correct treatment and safe disposal! For example:

  • Sharps collection is done in puncture-resistant containers
  • Infectious waste is put in biohazard bags with the universal biohazard symbol listed on it
  • Pathological waste is typically refrigerated, to prevent decomposition, until it is disposed of
  • Storage areas must be secure, clearly labeled, and designed to prevent exposure to unauthorized persons or pests

Waste Management and Disposal Processes

Biomedical waste is processed so that it is no longer going to infect whatever it comes into contact with or be harmful to the environment. Common methods include:

  • Autoclaving(steam sterilization) Refers to process of destroying infectious waste through exposure to heat, pressure and moisture
  • Incineration: The complete destruction of waste at high temperatures, or at least conversion to an ash residue. This is especially good for pathological and pharmaceutical wastes, but causes pollution with the air type
  • Chemical Disinfection: Application of chemicals like bleach to liquid waste or some infectious material
  • Microwave radiation: Disinfection through Internal heating of waste with microwave energy

The residual materials after treatment will usually be landfilled or sent to some further processing (like recycling of non-contaminated plastics or metals).

The transport of biomedical waste from health care institutions to treatment plants or disposal locations is highly regulated, including dumpster rental services. Specialized dumpster trucks that can safely transport certain hazardous materials are utilized, and all shipments must be accompanied by manifests specifying the waste’s type, quantity, and destination.

Specific packaging, labeling, and emergency response procedures are mandated for transporters of hazardous waste material by the DOT. Each state may have its own licensing requirements for companies dealing with biomedical waste.

Issues Faced In Biomedical Waste Management

Despite strict regulations, biomedical waste is a problem in the U.S. for a myriad of reasons:

  • Waste Volume: The increasing number of health care facilities and medical procedures results in larger amounts of waste produced and puts further strain on disposal capacity
  • Environmental Concerns: Incineration, though effective, releases toxins such as dioxins. Other options — such as autoclave treatment — require a large amount of energy
  • Compliance: Monitoring that smaller facilities, such as outpatient clinics and veterinary offices, comply with regulations can be a challenge due to limited oversight
  • Narrative: The increasing prevalence of home healthcare and telehealth presents difficulties in dealing with biomedical waste incurred outside of a standard facility

      • Future Directions in Waste Management
      Innovative approaches to biomedical waste management are explored in the United States too:

      • Technology Development: Increasing the efficiency of treatment methods to cleaner, energy efficient, plasma arc technology, for example, or advanced chemical processes
      • Recycling Initiatives: Putting more effort into recycling non-contaminated parts of biomedical waste, including plastics and metals
      • What They Do: Expand education about appropriate biomedical waste disposal methods for healthcare workers and the community
      • Policy updates: Amending regulations and confronting novel challenges, like waste from pandemics and natural disasters

      Proper and effective biomedical waste management is important for the protection of public health and the environment and for the sustainability of health care systems in North Carolina. This is part of a series of updated guidance as NC continues to address the complexities involved with managing the waste generated by a changing landscape of healthcare.

Health, Medical News

How the Florida Government Deals with Environmental Problems

August 3, 2024

waste issues in Florida

The state of Florida is home to a myriad fragile ecosystems, rich natural resources and an extensive coastline similarly confronted with various environmental issues. With the protection of its iconic Everglades to grappling with climate change and sea-level rise, Florida state government has had a complicated balancing act on environmental issues.

This includes a mix of plans, legal frameworks, conservation projects partnership delivery methods and engagement in connection with the community. These efforts, often spearheaded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) are designed to tackle a broad cross section of environmental issues ranging from water quality and habitat preservation, to climate resilience, sustainable development and better waste management practices.

Everglades Restoration and Water Quality

By far, the most critical environmental issue for south Florida and particularly the Everglades is water quality. Home to many endangered species and vital for the quality of South Florida’s water supply, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is in danger. Unfortunately, fifty years of agricultural runoff, water management practices and urban development have decimated the ecosystem.

In response to these problems, Florida has implemented a number of significant programs designed to restore the Everglades and water quality. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is a massive federal-state partnership to reverse the environmental decline in South Florida. The policies contained within CERP benefit the Everglades by returning natural water flow, increasing system-wide water quality and protecting native habitats. Freshwater projects in the plan include building reservoirs and stormwater treatment areas to collect invasive pollution runoff before it enters the Everglades.

Apart from CERP, the state has undertaken additional regulations on farming methods to minimize runoff of nutrients, especially in sugarcane fields west and south of northern parts of Everglades National Park known as the Everglades Agricultural Area. These regulations consist of a series of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to offset the negative ecological effect that accompanies farm work. The FDEP is also responsible for monitoring water throughout the state to ensure it meets established standards and that Florida waters are saved from being polluted.

Through Climatization and Sea Level Rise

Sea-level rise is already affecting the state and Florida will become ground zero for climate change consequences. Florida is uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of rising seas due in part to an extensive coastline, leading to increased flooding and coastal erosion as well as saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers.

Florida, meanwhile, faces a number of climate change – related challenges that the state has responded to through various resilience strategies. In 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis created the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection within the FDEP to coordinate a response at the state level for sea-level rise and other impacts from climate change. Among other things, this office provides support to local governments in the development and implementation of resilience plans – such as identifying critical infrastructure located within flood-risk areas – and strategies for minimizing risks to those assets.

The state has also rolled out the Resilient Florida Program that provides funding for locally proposed projects to reduce sea-level rise impacts on existing infrastructure and strengthen community resilience. This program provides grants for vulnerability assessments, resilience planning and the building of infrastructure such as seawalls, storm water systems and natural defenses like mangroves.

Florida has also been introducing climate resilience into its building codes and land-use planning. The state promotes the use of resilient construction techniques in flood-prone areas and mandates that localities plan for sea-level rise within their comprehensive planning frameworks, to name a few examples.

Conservation of the Habitat and Biodiversity

As the species suitable for culturing are very diverse, so too is Florida’s geographic diversity in ecosystems like wetlands, forests, crops and croplands abounded throughout the state of Florida as well as estuaries (saltwater/fresh water environments), fire nurtured land forms many types into a mosaic all over the peninsula. Preservation of these habitats and the species that rely on them is a primary focus of environmental policy in the state. The Florida Forever program is the state’s premier land conservation initiative, designed to acquire strategic lands important for protection of wildlife and water resources while providing recreational opportunities.

Since 2001, Florida Forever has conserved over 800,000 acres of public lands-much of these tracts are corridors that allow wildlife to migrate and flourish. The program aims to protect the land that is important for things like water recharge, flood control and endangered species. Financing The Florida Forever program uses a combination of state appropriations and bonds in collaboration with conservation groups, private landholders to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Florida cherishes it marine life, like the coral reefs besides its system and has plans to offer that as well. The state Coral Reef Conservation Program designs research investigations, monitors the reefs and carries out active restoration of Florida’s coral reef-strewn territories. This means preventing threats such as coral bleaching, disease and pollution; encouraging fishing practices that don’t damage the reef in favor of sustainable wildlife tourism.

Sustainability and Sustainable Growth Management

Being one of the fastest-growing states in America, Florida has been fighting a battle between development and conservation. To manage this growth in a sustainable way, Florida has implemented a number of planning and regulatory actions designed to direct development so that it occurs with the least environmental damage.

The Growth Management Act was first adopted in 1985 and mandates that all local governments require a comprehensive plan from which the critical elements of land use, housing, transportation and environmental protection be addressed. These plans must conform to state goals and are subject to review by the FDEP as well as other agencies. The act has greatly encouraged smart growth at the local level and directed land use patterns to promote future development in a more efficient manner appropriate for sound planning at all levels of government, moving inappropriate development away from sensitive areas like wetlands or floodplains and into urbanized edges depending on political decisions dictated by financial lucrative means.

The state also mandates environmental impact assessment for large development projects to demonstrate how they propose mitigating any harm done during the project. This would mean protecting wetlands and green space, avoiding additional water pollution or habitat loss when a development is added to an area.

Florida approach in address environmental topics features a mixture of regulation framework, conservation efforts and climate resilience planning. State efforts to protect water quality, restore the Everglades, address climate change, conserve biodiversity and manage growth appropriately have shown an integrated approach towards environmental stewardship.

That said, as Florida prepares for future growth and rising seas there is a great need for continued innovation, investment in water quality restoration projects and co-management partnerships if we are to sustainably protect the health of this unique system.

Health, Wellbeing

Can You Get Diabetes From Eating Sugar

October 7, 2017


Type 1 and type 2 diabetes affect the ability of the body to regulate its sugar levels. However, eating sugar or sugary foods will not cause type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes or also known as diabetes insipidus is an autoimmune condition that causes the body to attack its own insulin-producing cells. The damage your cells go through undermines the regulation of your blood sugar.

Type 2 diabetes or also known as diabetes mellitus is a little bit more complicated. Consuming sugar does not cause type 2 diabetes directly. But eating too much of it can cause obesity and it is one of the factors that could lead to diabetes.

Because this condition makes it difficult for your body to manage its glucose levels well, a person with this metabolic disorder can worsen their situation by eating sugar more than the recommended amount.

The Link Between Diabetes And Sugar

Eating sugar does not directly mean you will develop diabetes. But there is evidence from research that suggests that the availability of sugar increases the prevalence of diabetes. This study looked into 175 countries and concluded that countries with more sugar supply have a higher diabetes rates.

A recent study sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases conducted by the researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School suggests that consuming too much dietary sugar can possibly spark a process in the body that could lead to prediabetes.

An assistant professor at Duke University School of Medicine named Mark Herman, M.D. from the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition addressed the controversy of sugar and its relation with diabetes by publishing a study in the the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

He said consuming large amounts of sugar, particularly fructose appears to trigger a specific mechanism that could lead to diabetes. Furthermore, Dr. Herman said that this current findings has allowed them to better understand the fundamental principles on how diabetes develops.

Sugar-Related Health Problems

Although the link between sugar and type 2 diabetes is not direct, the link between sugar and other diabetes-causing health problems is.

Here is a list of other risks associated with too much sugar consumption:

  • Liver diseases
  • Hormonal changes
  • High cholesterol
  • Obesity or weight gain
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
  • Immune dysfunction
  • Cancer

The Recommended Sugar Intake

Sugar is widely present in food and is therefore completely impossible to avoid. However, the sugar found in whole foods are enough to suffice your body’s need for energy. So there is no need to drink sweet beverages like fruit juices, sodas, eat cookies, cakes, donuts, sweetened treats or any processed foods that are particularly unhealthy.

According to the American Heart Association, they recommend that an average man should not consume more than 150 calories, 36 grams or 9 teaspoons of sugar a day. As for the average woman, the limit should not exceed 100 calories, 25 grams or 6 teaspoons of sugar.

The American Diabetes Association also offers food recommendations and alternatives. You can prevent yourself from diabetes by eliminating high glycemic foods and simple carbs in your diet and replace them with complex carbohydrates like whole wheat or oatmeal.

According to 7 steps to health, eating more fiber-rich foods will help you maintain your glucose levels and sustain your energy throughout the day. This also stops you from craving or overeating. Choose lean proteins and source your fat from healthy foods that are rich in essential fatty acids.

Eliminate processed foods from your diet as they contain extra sugars, unhealthy trans fats and are generally high in sodium. Your sodium intake should only be less than 2,300 mg per day.

Lastly, to prevent glucose spikes, eat smaller but frequent meals every day. Instead of eating three large meals, spread them out to five. This will help you feel fuller and satiated throughout the day and prevent you from unhealthy snacking.

When your body can no longer regulate your glucose levels properly due to diabetes, eating too much sugar will worsen your symptoms. Always remember to eat healthy and live an active lifestyle. This will not only help reverse the problem but it will also prevent it from plaguing your life again.

Health, Medical News

5 Surprising Ways Turmeric Will Naturally Heal Your Body

August 4, 2017


Turmeric is one of the popular spices we have in our homes. It’s used to provide that yellow hue on curry-based dishes and soups. Aside from its culinary use, it’s also a dying agent for cloth produced in India. Also known as Curcuma longa, turmeric curcumin is a plant from the ginger family that has remained very popular over the years since 2000 BCE.

What gives turmeric curcumin its impressive and wide-ranging health benefits is its potent phytochemical compounds called curcuminoids. Amazingly, there has been thousands of medical research projects conducted on this spice to evaluate how it can be used in many different ways for health improvement.

The commonality in these studies is the three main phytochemicals found in the curcuminoids family. They are diferuloylmethane, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. In addition to these three biochemicals, another potent volatile oil called turmerone has also been found to have important potential effects on your health.

According to these numerous research papers, the curcuminoids are able to communicate with biochemical mechanism and pathways in the body. These 160 pathways support many different processes such as gut health, cardiovascular health, and brain health.

Turmeric curcumin has an abundance of antioxidants that support cellular health and prevent cell degeneration. Below are just some of the well-research pros you can get from turmeric.

Balances Mood

The Journal Affective Disorders published a report on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study they had conducted on two groups of individuals. One group was given turmeric curcumin every day, while the other group received a placebo. Over the course of eight weeks, individuals who got the turmeric curcumin had scored high on mood and anxiety exams compared to those in the placebo group. This finding definitely proves that turmeric has noticeable and promising results in terms of balancing the mood in people.

Heals Wounds

The September issue of Life Sciences 2014 has found that curcumin has properties that seemed to hasten the healing process. Aside from that, it appears to prevent further oxidation and offers a soothing effect on the wounds.

Another exciting finding published in the Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, October 2006 Issue, states that treating mice wounds topically with turmeric had showed promising results. According to their study, the collagen synthesis of the mice was improved and the strength of the new tissues has also increased.

Cell proliferation synthesis were on high rates as well. There could be many ways as to how the wound healing has significantly improved. But researchers have linked it simply to the strong antioxidant properties of turmeric.

Treats Pain From Chronic Disease

The correlation on how turmeric relieves knee discomfort in patients with arthritis has been published on the Journal of Clinical Interventions in Aging. This issue published last March of 2014 showed impressive results on how turmeric can better relieve pain compared to other conventional treatments.

A two-group study was also conducted. One given with turmeric, and the other group used the conventional medication. They concluded that those patients who took turmeric instead of conventional medicine seemed to have better results.

As per 2011 Issue of Surgical endoscopy, the benefits of a turmeric supplement on post-op discomfort and fatigue on patients showed less discomfort compared to the placebo group they had.

Balances Blood Sugar Levels

An investigative study that was published last 2014 by the Journal of Endocrinology stated that curcumin showed positive effects on Beta cells and Islet cells in the pancreas. These cells are in charge of producing insulin in your body. According to this study, turmeric has helped normalize imbalanced sugar levels and shows promising benefits on diabetic patients.

Improves Stomach Lining

One major reason why turmeric has a longstanding popularity is due to its soothing properties on the gastrointestinal tract. This is why many curry eaters feel the need to go to the bathroom after their meal – it starts by improving digestion.

Researchers have tested its ability to support the stomach lining by introducing acidic agents (such as alcohol) in the stomach. But before that, turmeric was administered before ethanol, and it was observed that the damage the alcohol can bring about on the stomach was reduced. This explains why turmeric was traditionally used in treating stomach ulcers.

Turmeric Supplementation

The only way for you to take advantage of turmeric’s strong health benefits is by taking it in it’s pure form and researchers say that you should get at least 95% curcuminoids to notice its healing effects.

Many companies are now offering this dosage in pill and extract forms. Side effects of turmeric pills are not common, but choosing a reputable brand that produces quality products should still be a priority. You can start by researching online and reading product reviews and testimonials.

Health

Doctors Find Practicing Not What Its Cracked Up To Be

June 4, 2017


You just graduated from professional medical college and are looking forward to a wonderful life long professional career service the public in healthcare.

The first thing someone asks you is have you got your malpractice insurance yet? You then think to yourself, I got into healthcare to help sick people get well and now you are telling me I have to insure myself in case these people I am trying to help sue me?

Even if you write a simple hip flexors review on the Web under your real name, you could still end up getting sued if for some reason people get sick from the product you recommended, not to mention got worse.

Yes and that is just the first reality check. Next you go out and try to find an office space, furnishings, equipment and supplies for your new office.

These items are expensive but then comes the real shocker. You need someone to answer your phone, assist you with patients and bill the insurance for you. If they don’t pay as they should, you will need someone to collect for you.

For most doctors, these costs, no more than a few years ago, were not difficult to cover with the reimbursement being paid out for services.

Enter Managed Care or what we in the business they like to call Mangled Care. Now we have businessmen coming into healthcare and trying to tell the doctors how much they should get paid for their services. The less they pay, the higher their profits and the hits just keep on coming.

This new dilemma is not easy for the practicing doctor to take. They find that what they took home from practice just a few years ago has been steadily reduced and most of the time for no other reason than greed on the part of the managed care companies.

Instead of bringing costs down, which was the intent of managed care, costs are either the same or higher. But, reimbursements are lower.

Now, your costs have remained the same but your collections have decreased. This becomes a very important issue for you. You need to curb costs somehow but where do you start. Maybe the DSL can go, maybe the yearly company party can be scaled down, lets try to conserve paper waist, etc.

What is you could take some of the staffing overhead and source it out at a rate less than you currently pay? Would you be interested? Well, now you can!

Practice Solutions, LLC provides a solution for all your office needs. They can help you with scheduling, billing, collections, legal issues, marketing and acquisitions. You keep only the staff you need to treat patients and we supply the rest.

They make this possible by dividing the cost of help in the above mentioned areas between a number of different doctors and offices. This allows them to save you money with staffing while hiring more competent people to fill these positions. You get better help for less.

If you have decreased your staffing, you now may not need as much lease space as you used to. This could be an additional benefit for using their services.

Call them today and let them show you how they can help you increase you practice income and get back some of that lost money!

Health, Medical News