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WasteMedX Helps LMH Health Bring Sustainability to Its Hospital Operations

WasteMedX Helps LMH Health Bring Sustainability to Its Hospital Operations

LMH-Health_WMX-Install

The installation of the ozone-powered Vortex waste treatment system helps LMH reduce emissions while driving down costs, putting the health system on track to reach its ambitious sustainability goals.

Lawrence, KS (August 15, 2024) – LMH Health is among the first health systems in the country to massively bring down the carbon footprint of its waste processing operations.

It’s all thanks to the installation of the Vortex waste treatment system from WasteMedX, which came online at LMH Health’s main hospital at the beginning of August. The system, which uses an ozone-based treatment process, reduces emissions, cuts costs, and enables non-hazardous medical waste to be put into standard waste streams thanks to a unique sterilization process.

“This is a new technology [that] fits right into our strategic imperative around sustainability,” said Russ Johnson, CEO of LMH Health. “It helps us solve the waste stream around bio-hazardous waste, which can be clunky, difficult and expensive, and it allows us to take a little more control over operational processes, feel confident about them being handled correctly and appropriately, and reduce our operating costs.”  

The eco-friendly WasteMedX is a cleaner, safer, more sustainable waste solution for healthcare organizations. The company’s service helps protect hospital staff through safer elimination of potentially hazardous waste, all while minimizing pollutants and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Waste is one of those processes that can easily fall under the radar of a healthcare facility,” said Tim Miller, CEO of WasteMedX. “Thankfully, the leadership at LMH has really put the Lawrence community front and center and thought deeply about how to serve their patient base. Not just through their clinical expertise, which they excel at, but through creating a better environment. I couldn’t be more honored that they chose WasteMedX to help them meet their ambitious sustainability goals.”

“Sustainability here is very important,” said Bill Churchwell, director of Environmental Services at LMH Health. “We have a lot of waste that comes into a hospital. The best thing I like about this machine is we have control over our waste. We know that all of our HIPAA documents are being shredded. We know that all of our waste is being processed and sanitized, and we know where it’s going. It’s good for the hospital and it’s good for the environment.”

WasteMedX’s technology reduces the volume of medical waste by approximately 90%, sterilizing shredded waste thanks to ozone treatment technology. With the push of a button, waste is weighed, shredded, sterilized and transferred to a disposal container. WasteMedX’s full-service pickup and transport to a central facility further ensures the prompt, safe removal of medical waste.

Benefits include reduced waste cost, cleaner waste processes, faster processes, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and easy electronic waste tracking.

To learn more and to see the new system in action, watch this video about the WasteMedX Vortex at LMH Health.

And visit https://www.lmh.org/ to learn more about how LMH Health continues to improve the health of the community in myriad ways.

To learn more about WasteMedX, visit https://wastemedx.com/.

Welcome to LMH Health

At LMH Health, formerly Lawrence Memorial Hospital, our purpose is to be a partner for lifelong health.

LMH Health has a rich history. Founded in 1921, LMH is a 174-bed hospital located in Lawrence, Kansas. Through the years, hospital additions have been built and health care services have expanded—a trend that continues today.

LMH Health continues to be a community-owned, not-for-profit hospital that serves the health care needs of the community regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. LMH receives no tax support from the city of Lawrence or Douglas County. Dedicated to improving the health of the community, LMH invests all excess revenues in services, equipment and facilities which further that mission.

LMH Health provides care that is sensitive to cultural, racial, religious and other differences and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, ethnicity, culture, language, socio-economic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, or source of payment, nor in relation to employment practices.

The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission. In addition, hospital services are surveyed by a variety of other accrediting agencies.

About WasteMedX

WasteMedX helps hospitals heal the planet as well as patients. They do this through an eco-friendly waste treatment and disposal process that minimizes pollutants and reduces costs. This ozone treatment technology provides safe, efficient application of an ozone compound to all types of medical waste, reducing its volume up to 90%. The reactivity of the ozone compound destroys bacteria on contact and, with the push of a button, waste is weighed, shredded, sterilized and transferred to a disposal container.

Founded in Indiana in 2016 on the belief that hospital waste treatment and disposal could be more efficient, less costly and help hospitals achieve their sustainability goals, WasteMedX is revolutionizing waste disposal processes around the country.

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Disposing Medicines, Sharps & Other Non-Hazardous Waste

Disposing Medicines, Sharps & Other Non-Hazardous Waste

Healthcare facilities across the country grapple with the need to dispose of medical waste in a safe, environmentally responsible manner. Considering the various types of waste these facilities produce — alongside stringent compliance requirements tied to disposal — waste management can be a costly and complex sticking point for hospitals.

When it comes to disposing of medicines, sharps, and other non-hazardous materials, every healthcare facility has its own way of doing things. But there are some general best practices that support a more ethical, sustainable, and cost-effective disposal process.The best place to begin this conversation is by looking at some of the most common types of medical waste.

6 Common Types of Medical Waste

Red Bag Waste

Red bag waste, otherwise known as biohazardous or infectious waste, refers to healthcare materials that have been contaminated. This can range from bandages and gauze contaminated with blood to hospital gloves and gowns that have come into contact with bodily fluids.

As Practice Greenhealth reports, red bag waste can make up less than 8% of the waste that a hospital produces. Yet due to the haphazard nature with which people typically fill red bags, red bag waste can account for more than 40% of a hospital’s waste management budget.

Trace Chemo

Trace chemo is medical waste that has come into contact with very small or ‘trace’ amounts of chemotherapeutic agents. Examples include empty vials that once housed chemotherapy drugs and IV bags used to administer chemotherapy.

Because this type of waste has only minimal traces of chemo, it is seen as less hazardous than bulk chemo waste that contains higher agent quantities. However, trace chemo still requires careful disposal based on the chemicals’ toxicity.

Sharps

In medical waste, sharps refer to any items that can potentially puncture or cut skin. Needles, syringes, and scalpels all fall under this umbrella, as do broken test tubes.

While the safe disposal of sharps is critical in preventing needlestick injuries to healthcare and waste management workers, it’s also a matter of avoiding transmission of bloodborne pathogens.

Non-Hazardous Pharmaceuticals

Non-hazardous pharmaceuticals are medications that are not classified as hazardous waste by industry regulators. When disposed of properly, these medicines — a list that includes non-prescription drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen — are not deemed to pose a significant risk to human health or the environment.

HIPAA Documents

HIPAA documents are considered part of the medical waste stream because they contain protected health information. To maintain confidentiality and avoid unauthorized access to sensitive patient information, these documents must be discarded in a secure manner.

Pathological Waste

Pathological waste refers to tissues and other biological materials removed in medical procedures. Because of its potential to be infectious, this category of medical waste is generally considered hazardous, with special handling and disposal methods required.

Effective Waste Disposal Starts With Segregation at the Source

When it comes to disposing of medicines, sharp, and other non-hazardous materials, proper segregation at the source is critical. By accurately categorizing and separating waste, healthcare facilities can enhance safety and compliance while lowering costs.

For example, over-the-counter medications often get added to red bag disposal containers even though it’s unnecessary. This can increase the volume of red bag waste and the subsequent costs for handling and disposing of biohazardous materials. Careful segregation at the outset of waste management helps keep costs in check.

The use of clearly labeled, color-coded bags and containers helps ensure staff adhere to protocols.

Ensure Containers Are Durable Enough To Handle Waste Needs

While on the topic of medical waste containers, it’s important to ensure containers are able to safely accommodate stored waste. Generally, this means medical waste containers should be leak-proof and outfitted with secure lids.

When handling sharps, puncture-resistant containers become especially critical. Sharp medical waste containers are generally made from durable, thick plastic and include fill-level indicators to ensure they aren’t over capacity, which would increase the risk of punctures.

Leverage Sustainable Treatment & Disposal Options

Neutralizing or destroying medical waste of various types is achieved through a few different routes:

  • Autoclaving (steam sterilization): Waste is subjected to a high-pressure steam that kills microorganisms and makes the waste safe for disposal. This is a common method for treating infectious waste like contaminated sharps.
  • Incineration: Often used for pathological waste and pharmaceuticals, burning waste thermally treats it and destroys pathogens.
  • Chemical treatment: Suitable for liquid waste like laboratory solutions, disinfectants or other chemical agents are used to neutralize pathogens.

While autoclaving and chemical treatment are recognized as more eco-friendly options to treat and dispose of medical waste, there’s an even better option on the table: ozone treatment technology.

Ozone treatment technology effectively destroys pathogens in medical waste without generating byproducts or greenhouse gases. Ozone treatment systems generally use less energy than conventional waste treatment options, and the process leaves behind no residue or ash, further minimizing the overall waste that requires disposal.

One of the other main benefits of ozone treatment technology is that it can be applied to a wide range of medical waste streams. Healthcare facilities can use it to effectively treat non-hazardous regulated medical waste in the six categories described above: sharps, red bag waste, trace chemo, non-hazardous pharmaceuticals, pathological waste and HIPAA documents.

Turn to WasteMedX for Your Medical Waste Disposal Needs

WasteMedX is dedicated to providing healthcare facilities with safe, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for medical waste disposal. Utilizing state-of-the-art ozone treatment technology, we can effectively treat and dispose of a wide range of medical streams such as red bag waste, trace chemo, sharps, non-hazardous pharmaceuticals, HIPAA documents, and pathological waste.

Learn more about our services.

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WasteMedX Attends National Conference Focused on Sustainability in Healthcare

WasteMedX Attends National Conference Focused on Sustainability in Healthcare

WasteMedX, an eco-friendly medical waste disposal company, recently attended the 2024 CleanMed conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. CleanMed is the premier national conference on environmental sustainability in the healthcare sector. Each year, the conference draws hundreds of leading experts from across the country and around the world.  

“CleanMed 2024 was an incredible opportunity to connect with innovative players in the healthcare sustainability space,” said Kim Phox, VP of Sales. “As a company that works with healthcare organizations to achieve their sustainability goals, it was inspiring to see the other technologies and solutions that prioritize community well-being and the health of our planet.”

With an estimated 6 million tons of medical waste being produced each year, WasteMedX is a cleaner, safer, more sustainable waste solution for healthcare organizations. By shredding waste, the company’s system reduces the volume of waste by 90% resulting in less hauls to local landfills.

Shredded waste is sterilized using a unique ozone treatment technology. Ozone treatment sterilizes medical waste materials in a short time frame and provides a more sustainable option by emitting oxygen back into the atmosphere during processing. Overall, WasteMedX’s system reduces greenhouse gas emissions by  30-50% and uses less energy compared to traditional methods like incineration or autoclaving.

Benefits to healthcare organizations include reduced waste cost, cleaner and faster waste processes, fewer trips to the landfill, less energy consumption, and easy electronic waste and invoice tracking.

To see how WasteMedX’s medical waste disposal process works or to learn more about its environmental impact, visit wastemedx.com/our-process/.

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CQuence Health Invests In WasteMedX to Impact Healthcare and the Environment

CQuence Health Invests In WasteMedX to Impact Healthcare and the Environment

CQuence and WasteMedX

Omaha, Nebraska (July 14, 2023)CQuence Health, a holding company that invests in innovators in the healthcare industry, has announced a new investment partnership with WasteMedX.

The eco-friendly WasteMedX is a cleaner, safer, more sustainable waste solution for healthcare organizations. The company’s service helps protect hospital staff through safer elimination of potentially hazardous waste while producing a healthier environment by minimizing pollutants and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

WasteMedX’s technology reduces the volume of medical waste by approximately 90% and sterilizes shredded waste using ozone treatment technology. With the push of a button, waste is weighed, shredded, sterilized and transferred to a disposal container. WasteMedX’s full-service pickup and transportation further ensures the prompt, safe removal of medical waste.

Benefits include reduced waste cost, cleaner waste processes, faster processes, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and easy electronic waste tracking.

“We are truly invested in the success of the companies we support,” said Mike Cassling, CQuence chairman and CEO. “WasteMedX is an innovative company whose service provides value to communities across the country. Their impact on both healthcare and the waste industry shows that it’s possible to reduce costs and improve sustainability, and that’s exactly why we’re excited to offer funding and an array of additional services to this fast-growing business.”

CQuence Health shapes the future of healthcare by helping companies like WasteMedX grow. The Omaha-based company sets itself apart from traditional investment companies by offering a blend of strategic guidance, professional services and investment capital, all tailored to a particular company’s evolving needs. Through the new investment partnership, WasteMedX will utilize all three offerings.

With decades of experience within the healthcare industry, CQuence will provide WasteMedX with expert advice to inform their business decisions as they scale. As WasteMedX focuses on its manufacturing and service business, they will be able to offload their operational needs to CQuence’s professional services teams, which range from marketing to IT support and more.

“We’re excited about the competitive advantage working with CQuence gives our business,” said Tim Miller, CEO of WasteMedX. “Access to their industry knowledge and services ensures we’re making the right decisions while allowing us to focus on the bigger picture – our customers, services and solutions.”

To learn more about WasteMedX’s medical waste services and environmental impact, visit wastemedx.com. And to find out how CQuence can drive your company’s success through its unique investment model, visit cquencehealth.com. 

About WasteMedX

WasteMedX helps hospitals heal the planet as well as patients. They do this through an eco-friendly waste treatment and disposal process that minimizes pollutants and reduces costs. This ozone treatment technology provides safe, efficient application of an ozone compound to all types of medical waste, reducing its volume up to 90%. The reactivity of the ozone compound destroys bacteria on contact and, with the push of a button, waste is weighed, shredded, sterilized and transferred to a disposal container.

Founded in Indiana in 2016 on the belief that hospital waste treatment and disposal could be more efficient, less costly and help hospitals achieve their sustainability goals, WasteMedX is revolutionizing waste disposal processes around the country.

About CQuence Health

CQuence Health shapes the future of healthcare by providing strategic guidance, professional services and investment capital to some of the industry’s most innovative companies. CQuence fosters and supports entrepreneurs from bold idea to thriving business venture and everywhere along that sequence, maximizing their impact on patient lives and the community.

CQuence Health is selective in its funding approach — supporting strong business ideas that have real potential to reshape healthcare. In addition to capital, CQ’s strategic guidance ensures entrepreneurs have the business and financial resources to become long-lasting enterprises, leading the charge for a better world. Our portfolio companies also benefit from professional services, such as research, marketing, human resources, accounting and IT support from experts with decades of experience in their respective fields.

To view CQuence’s full portfolio and see firsthand the impact CQuence is making in the healthcare space, visit CQuenceHealth.com.

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