Medical Device Disposal Planning, 2019
Objective
Create safe, compliant and sustainable disposal plan for a clinical smart device:
Establish safe and compliant disposal process that aligns with product use
Engage stakeholders and users around responsible disposal
Provide input to device designers on product sustainability and disposal needs
Process
Assessed proposed disposal process, manufacturer disposal instructions, universal and medical waste policy
Developed and documented disposal process and materials flow from point of waste generation to final processor
Evaluated safety and compliance of each process step with project stakeholders, validated end processor safety and sustainability
Developed educational materials for clinicians and collection team around disposal
Provided feedback and recommendations to device manufacturer regarding sustainability and user experience of product disposal
Outcomes
Established a disposal plan that:
Complies with safety and waste regulations
Complements clinical and operational workflows
Ensures responsible end-of-life management of smart device
Supports continuous improvement of medical technology design
Details
Kimball Sustainable Healthcare supported a client with disposal planning for a smart medical device. The device improves outcomes and prevents complications for patients in the intensive care setting. At time of disposal, the device presents unique challenges.
In the intensive care setting, clinicians work in a fast-paced and time constrained environment. Any disposal solution must align with existing clinical workflows. Disposal of smart devices in the municipal trash or biohazardous waste bin create fire hazard risk and result in pollution. Lastly, e-waste management should be safe and cost-effective, and meet industry standards for sustainable processing.
As part of a product disposal planning team, we developed and refined a disposal process that is feasible for frontline clinicians, complies with hospital safety and quality regulations, and meets the materials standards of e-waste processor. We developed disposal bin set-up and signage, advised on educational materials, and established an internal collection process and schedule.
KSH and client representatives met with the smart device design team to provide feedback and insights on user and operational needs surrounding smart medical device disposal. This information will inform next generation improvements as the device moves toward design for recyclability.
Medical devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex, with novel materials and embedded smart components. Device disposal is the final interaction between a product and client. Proactive disposal planning maximizes the perceived value of any medical device, while preventing pollution and thereby supporting public health.
