AST Guideline - Environmental Practices in the Operating Room

3 Evidence-based Research and Key Terms The research of articles, letters, nonrandomized trials, randomized prospective studies is conducted using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and MEDLINE®, the U.S. National Library of Medicine® database of indexed citations and abstracts to medical and healthcare journal articles. The key terms used for the research of the Guidelines include: diethylhexylphthalate; environmental practices; general waste; going green; infectious waste; other potentially infectious material (OPIM); sustainability practices. Key terms used in the guidelines are italicized and included in the glossary. Guideline I HDOs, manufacturers, governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector should adopt the World Health Organizations core principles for management of healthcare waste. 1. The adoption of safe and sustainable practices of managing RMW is a responsibility of all who are involved in the finance and support of providing healthcare to the public. 43 This includes manufacturers that should consider waste management practices as related to the development and sales of their products and services. 43 The following are excerpts from the WHO recommendations; however, all organizations, businesses, and institutions should become familiar with the document in its entirety in order to adopt the recommendations. A. Non-governmental organizations should include the promotion of sound healthcare waste management in their advocacy. B. The private sector should take responsibility for the sound management of healthcare waste associated with the products and services they provide, including the design of products and packaging. C. All concerned institutions and organizations should promote sound healthcare waste management; develop innovative solutions to reduce the volume and toxicity of the waste they produce and associated with their products; ensure that global health strategies and programs take into account healthcare waste management. Guideline II The HDO should organize a Green or Sustainability Leadership Committee (SLC) that is responsible for overseeing the green efforts of the HDO. 14, 15 1. The committee should have representatives from the following departments and/or professions: physician(s); surgical technology; environmental services; infection control; laboratory (and its subdivisions such as the blood bank and pathology); materials management; purchasing; radiology; pharmacy; nursing; safety. 14, 15, 30, 38 2. HDOs may want to consider forming subcommittees that would be responsible for reporting to the SLC. A. The subcommittees may be based upon departments such as Surgery Department, Central Sterile Supply Department, Environmental Services Department, Radiology Department, and so forth; the supervisors/directors