MERCIMERCIMEDICAL EQUIPMENT RECOVERY OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RECOVERY OF

CLEAN INVENTORYCLEAN INVENTORY

HELEN M. FRENCH RN, BSN, CNOR, CLIN III / OPERATING ROOM

THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA HEALTH SYSTEM

Copyright 2004Copyright 2004

( AUGUST 1992 – 2008 )( AUGUST 1992 – 2008 )

Jnfrench@ntelos.netJnfrench@ntelos.net

HELEN HELEN CAME TO CAME TO THE USA THE USA

FROM FROM SLOVAKIA SLOVAKIA THROUGH THROUGH

ELLIS ELLIS ISLANDISLAND

FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS MERCI FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS MERCI HAS DEALT WITH SURPLUS HAS DEALT WITH SURPLUS

MEDICAL SUPPLIES THAT ARE MEDICAL SUPPLIES THAT ARE UNABLE TO BE SOLD AND UNABLE TO BE SOLD AND

WASTEFUL TO BE THROWN OUT WASTEFUL TO BE THROWN OUT

2,400,000 TONS *2,400,000 TONS *

OF MEDICAL WASTE ARE GENERATED BY HOSPITALS EVERY YEAR !

• MEDICAL WASTE INCINERATORS ARE AMONG THE TOP THREE SOURCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DIOXIN

RELEASES

• THE OPERATING ROOM IS THE LARGEST WASTE GENERATOR IN ANY HOSPITAL

(4,800,000,000 LBS)(4,800,000,000 LBS)

* DATA FROM “HOSPITALS FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT” (H2E)* DATA FROM “HOSPITALS FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT” (H2E)

THE “ THREE R’S ” THE “ THREE R’S ” EXTENDEDEXTENDED

REDUCEREDUCE

REUSEREUSERECYCLERECYCLE

RECOVERRECOVER

PROPER SEGREGATION OF PROPER SEGREGATION OF MEDICAL WASTEMEDICAL WASTE

o SHARPSSHARPS

o REGULATED MEDICAL WASTEREGULATED MEDICAL WASTE

o TRASHTRASH

o CHEMICALSCHEMICALS

o CLEAN, NEW, UNUSED MEDICAL SUPPLIES CLEAN, NEW, UNUSED MEDICAL SUPPLIES

LACK OF SEGREGATION OF LACK OF SEGREGATION OF MEDICAL WASTE LEADS TO MEDICAL WASTE LEADS TO

DISPOSAL OFDISPOSAL OF

“ GOLD WASTE “

500+ TONS = $108 MILLION FROM HOSPITAL/COMMUNITY*500+ TONS = $108 MILLION FROM HOSPITAL/COMMUNITY*

*Yale New Haven Hospital*Yale New Haven Hospital

500+ TONS FROM NETWORKING500+ TONS FROM NETWORKING50,000+ LBS TO UVA RESEARCH LABS50,000+ LBS TO UVA RESEARCH LABS

IMPROPER USE OF THE “REGULATED IMPROPER USE OF THE “REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE CONTAINER” SHOWN MEDICAL WASTE CONTAINER” SHOWN

BELOW BELOW (NON-INFECTIOUS TRASH INCLUDED)(NON-INFECTIOUS TRASH INCLUDED)

PRE-MERCIPRE-MERCI

PRE-MERCI “HEART CASE”PRE-MERCI “HEART CASE”

( NOTE EXCESSIVE SUPPLIES )( NOTE EXCESSIVE SUPPLIES )

POST-MERCI “HEART CASE”POST-MERCI “HEART CASE”

BLUE BAGS / BLUE BAGS / CONTAINERS CAPTURE CONTAINERS CAPTURE

CLEAN / UNUSED CLEAN / UNUSED SUPPLIES IN THE ORSUPPLIES IN THE OR

HALF OF THE HALF OF THE SMALL MERCI SMALL MERCI

SORTING AREASORTING AREA

A SURGICAL PACK : PROS & CONSA SURGICAL PACK : PROS & CONS

EXAMPLE OF A SURGICAL PACK / PROS & EXAMPLE OF A SURGICAL PACK / PROS & CONSCONS

EXCESS SUPPLY FROM SURGICAL PREP KITSEXCESS SUPPLY FROM SURGICAL PREP KITS

EXCESS SUPPLIES FROM SURGICAL EXCESS SUPPLIES FROM SURGICAL PACKSPACKS

ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW MERCI SUPPLIES ARE ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW MERCI SUPPLIES ARE USED:USED:

THESE ITEMS, ONCE PURCHASED BY UVA THESE ITEMS, ONCE PURCHASED BY UVA RESEARCH LABS CAN NOW BE PICKED UP FREE RESEARCH LABS CAN NOW BE PICKED UP FREE

AT MERCIAT MERCI

CLEAN / UNUSED SURGICAL GOWNS ARE AVAILABLE TO CLEAN / UNUSED SURGICAL GOWNS ARE AVAILABLE TO MANY GROUPS.MANY GROUPS.

2000 STERILE INSTRUMENTS RECOVERED BY MERCI 2000 STERILE INSTRUMENTS RECOVERED BY MERCI SENT BACK TO HOSPITAL CENTRAL SUPPLYSENT BACK TO HOSPITAL CENTRAL SUPPLY

EXAMPLE OF A PICKUP OF MERCI SUPPLIES BY EXAMPLE OF A PICKUP OF MERCI SUPPLIES BY NGONGO

WASTE STREAM AUDITWASTE STREAM AUDIT

MERCI ELIMINATES EXPENSIVE WASTE STREAM MERCI ELIMINATES EXPENSIVE WASTE STREAM AUDITS !AUDITS !

BENEFITS OF THE “NO COST” BENEFITS OF THE “NO COST” MERCI PROGRAMMERCI PROGRAM

IMPROVES ENVIRONMENTIMPROVES ENVIRONMENT

DECREASES WASTE PROCESSINGDECREASES WASTE PROCESSING

IMPROVES MATERIALS MANAGEMENTIMPROVES MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

EDUCATESEDUCATES

BENEFITS MISSIONS (FREE PICKUP)BENEFITS MISSIONS (FREE PICKUP)

REDUCES COSTSREDUCES COSTS

LENDS ITSELF TO EMERGENCY LENDS ITSELF TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESSPREPAREDNESS

INVOLVES COMMUNITYINVOLVES COMMUNITY

WHO PROFITS FROM WHO PROFITS FROM MERCI MERCI ??

HOSPITALHOSPITAL

RESEARCH LABSRESEARCH LABSMISSIONSMISSIONS

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POTENTIALPOTENTIAL

INCINERATIONINCINERATIONREDUCEDREDUCED

EXCESS EXCESS PLASTICS PLASTICS

FROM FROM SURGICAL SURGICAL

PACKS PACKS SAVED SAVED FROM FROM

LANDFILLS LANDFILLS OR OR

INCINERATOINCINERATORR

EPA SAYS:EPA SAYS:

IT TAKES 1000 IT TAKES 1000 YEARS FOR YEARS FOR

ONE PLASTIC ONE PLASTIC GROCERY GROCERY

BAG TO BAG TO DISINTEGRATDISINTEGRAT

E IN A E IN A LANDFILLLANDFILL

EPA RECOMMENDATIONS:EPA RECOMMENDATIONS:

1999 – EXPECTANT MOTHERS SHOULD EAT FISH ONLY ONCE A WEEK1999 – EXPECTANT MOTHERS SHOULD EAT FISH ONLY ONCE A WEEK

2003 – EXPECTANT MOTHERS SHOULD NOT EAT ANY FISH 2003 – EXPECTANT MOTHERS SHOULD NOT EAT ANY FISH

THE MERCI CONCEPT ADOPTED NATIONALLY WOULD BE A THE MERCI CONCEPT ADOPTED NATIONALLY WOULD BE A PROFOUND STEP TOWARD A CLEANER ENVIRONMENTPROFOUND STEP TOWARD A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT

WHO PROFITS FROM WHO PROFITS FROM MERCI MERCI ??

HOSPITALHOSPITAL

RESEARCH LABSRESEARCH LABSMISSIONSMISSIONS

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POTENTIALPOTENTIAL

BENEFITS TO BENEFITS TO HOSPITALSHOSPITALSCONTINUOUS AUDIT CONTINUOUS AUDIT

CAPTURE, IDENTIFY, MINIMIZE (CIM)CAPTURE, IDENTIFY, MINIMIZE (CIM)

NO CONSULTANTS REQUIREDNO CONSULTANTS REQUIRED

COMPLEX TRAINING UNNECESSARYCOMPLEX TRAINING UNNECESSARY

REDUCTION OF DISPOSAL AND STORAGE REDUCTION OF DISPOSAL AND STORAGE COSTSCOSTS

MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX DEDUCTIONSMAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX DEDUCTIONSDECREASES RMW (EPA / H2E FRIENDLY)DECREASES RMW (EPA / H2E FRIENDLY)

NOTE: NOTE: EVERYEVERY HOSPITAL HAS OPPORTUNITIES HOSPITAL HAS OPPORTUNITIES

WHO PROFITS FROM WHO PROFITS FROM MERCI MERCI ??

HOSPITALHOSPITAL

RESEARCH LABSRESEARCH LABSMISSIONSMISSIONS

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POTENTIALPOTENTIAL

BENEFITS TO MISSIONS BENEFITS TO MISSIONS (NGO)(NGO)

LARGE MISSIONS LARGE MISSIONS

SMALL MISSIONS (SON, SOM, ETC)SMALL MISSIONS (SON, SOM, ETC)

NETWORKING : NETWORKING : MERCY SHIPSMERCY SHIPS

GLEANING FOR THE WORLDGLEANING FOR THE WORLD

MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANIESMEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANIES

VIRGINIA WILD LIFE CENTERVIRGINIA WILD LIFE CENTER

LITHUANIALITHUANIA

EQUIPPING THE SAINTSEQUIPPING THE SAINTS

( 500+ TONS / $ 108 MILLION, UVA ONLY)( 500+ TONS / $ 108 MILLION, UVA ONLY)

INSTRUMENTS PREVIOUSLY DISCARDED AS RMW INSTRUMENTS PREVIOUSLY DISCARDED AS RMW RECOVERED BY MERCI AFTER STERILIZATIONRECOVERED BY MERCI AFTER STERILIZATION

INSTRUMENTS SHOWN ON PREVIOUS SLIDE WERE INSTRUMENTS SHOWN ON PREVIOUS SLIDE WERE USED IN THE REMOVAL OF THIS TUMOR IN HAITIUSED IN THE REMOVAL OF THIS TUMOR IN HAITI

UVA SOM PROFESSOR PICKING UP INSTRUMENTS FOR UVA SOM PROFESSOR PICKING UP INSTRUMENTS FOR GHANAGHANA

SUPPLIES DELIVERED TO MERCI ON REGULAR SUPPLIES DELIVERED TO MERCI ON REGULAR THURSDAY SORTING DAYTHURSDAY SORTING DAY

MORE SUPPLIES FOR SORTINGMORE SUPPLIES FOR SORTING

LAUNDRY EXCESS FOR MERCILAUNDRY EXCESS FOR MERCI

SUCTION TUBING SORTED BY MERCISUCTION TUBING SORTED BY MERCI

SHARPS CONTAINERS FOR SORTING. POPULAR WITH SHARPS CONTAINERS FOR SORTING. POPULAR WITH THE RESEARCH LABSTHE RESEARCH LABS

14,000 LBS OF SUPPLIES READY TO LEAVE MERCI FOR 14,000 LBS OF SUPPLIES READY TO LEAVE MERCI FOR AFGHANISTANAFGHANISTAN

MERCI SUPPLIES WENT WITH UVA MERCI SUPPLIES WENT WITH UVA SURGEON TO INDIASURGEON TO INDIA

UVA SURGEON USED MERCI SUPPLIES TO REPAIR CLEFT UVA SURGEON USED MERCI SUPPLIES TO REPAIR CLEFT PALATES IN INDIAPALATES IN INDIA

MERCI SUPPLIES BEING PACKED FOR SANTO DOMINGOMERCI SUPPLIES BEING PACKED FOR SANTO DOMINGO

MERCI SUPPLIES WERE USED IN MY SURGICAL MERCI SUPPLIES WERE USED IN MY SURGICAL MISSION TRIP TO BOLIVIAMISSION TRIP TO BOLIVIA

Dr. Carl Lynch en route to MERCI Dr. Carl Lynch en route to MERCI supplied Bolivian Missionsupplied Bolivian Mission

Dr. Gross assisted by Helen French RN, BSN, CNOR in BoliviaDr. Gross assisted by Helen French RN, BSN, CNOR in Bolivia

MERCI PLASTIC CONTAINERS SHOWN HERE IN BOLIVIAN MERCI PLASTIC CONTAINERS SHOWN HERE IN BOLIVIAN PHARMACYPHARMACY

WHO PROFITS FROM WHO PROFITS FROM MERCI MERCI ??

HOSPITALHOSPITAL

RESEARCH LABSRESEARCH LABSMISSIONSMISSIONS

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POTENTIALPOTENTIAL

BENEFITS TO UVA RESEARCH LABSBENEFITS TO UVA RESEARCH LABS

SUPPLIESSUPPLIES

SHARINGSHARING

IDEASIDEAS

RESEARCH SUMMER STUDENT PICKING UP MERCI RESEARCH SUMMER STUDENT PICKING UP MERCI SUPPLIESSUPPLIES

UVA RESEARCH LAB STAFF PICKING UP MERCI UVA RESEARCH LAB STAFF PICKING UP MERCI SUPPLIESSUPPLIES

MORE UVA RESEARCH LAB STAFF PICKING UP MERCI MORE UVA RESEARCH LAB STAFF PICKING UP MERCI SUPPLIESSUPPLIES

WHO PROFITS FROM WHO PROFITS FROM MERCI MERCI ??

HOSPITALHOSPITAL

RESEARCH LABSRESEARCH LABSMISSIONSMISSIONS

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POTENTIALPOTENTIAL

BENEFITS TO COMMUNITYBENEFITS TO COMMUNITY

VOLUNTEERSVOLUNTEERSSTUDENTSSTUDENTSEDUCATIONEDUCATION

CLINICSCLINICS

NURSING STUDENT / MERCI VOLUNTEERNURSING STUDENT / MERCI VOLUNTEER

HOSPITAL HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEER IN MERCIHOSPITAL HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEER IN MERCI

MERCI UVA/SOM STUDENTS WHO HELP SORT MERCI MERCI UVA/SOM STUDENTS WHO HELP SORT MERCI SUPPLIESSUPPLIES

UVA SON PROFESSOR PICKS UP “BABY ANNE” AND OTHER UVA SON PROFESSOR PICKS UP “BABY ANNE” AND OTHER MERCI SUPPLIESMERCI SUPPLIES

DR MCGAHREN’S STUDENT ORIENTATION GROUP DR MCGAHREN’S STUDENT ORIENTATION GROUP USES MERCI SUPPLIESUSES MERCI SUPPLIES

MERCIMERCI VOLUNTEERS LEARN MEDICAL SUPPLIES BY VOLUNTEERS LEARN MEDICAL SUPPLIES BY SORTING. SHOWN ARE ITEMS SEEN ONLY IN THE SORTING. SHOWN ARE ITEMS SEEN ONLY IN THE

OPERATING ROOMOPERATING ROOM

MERCI VOLUNTEERS LEARN MEDICAL SUPPLIES BY MERCI VOLUNTEERS LEARN MEDICAL SUPPLIES BY SORTING. SHOWN IS AN ITEM SEEN ONLY IN THE SORTING. SHOWN IS AN ITEM SEEN ONLY IN THE

OPERATING ROOMOPERATING ROOM

MERCI HAS DONATED SUPPLIES TO RAM FOR THE PAST 5 MERCI HAS DONATED SUPPLIES TO RAM FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS YEARS

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TREATED AT RAM BENEFIT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TREATED AT RAM BENEFIT FROM MERCI SUPPLIESFROM MERCI SUPPLIES

AS A RAM VOLUTEER I WAS ABLE TO SNAP THIS PICTURE AS A RAM VOLUTEER I WAS ABLE TO SNAP THIS PICTURE OF GOVERNOR WARNER AS HE SHOWS HIS SUPPORT FOR OF GOVERNOR WARNER AS HE SHOWS HIS SUPPORT FOR

RAMRAM

VIRGINIA WILDLIFE CENTER’S DR BRIGHT PICKS UP VIRGINIA WILDLIFE CENTER’S DR BRIGHT PICKS UP SUPPLIESSUPPLIES

AORN Journal Article ContributorAORN Journal Article Contributor

AORN National Conference PresenterAORN National Conference Presenter

NIH Conference PresenterNIH Conference Presenter

HHS / Washington, DC PresenterHHS / Washington, DC Presenter

Va. Secretary of Health Jane Woods, PresenterVa. Secretary of Health Jane Woods, Presenter

Virginia General Assembly Resolution # 739 CommendationVirginia General Assembly Resolution # 739 Commendation

STTI / Article ContributorSTTI / Article Contributor

STTI “Media Guide to Health Care Experts”STTI “Media Guide to Health Care Experts”

UVA SON Volunteer AwardUVA SON Volunteer Award

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Advisor/PresenterMilton S. Hershey Medical Center Advisor/Presenter

Federal EPA Task Force MemberFederal EPA Task Force Member

UVA Community Outreach AwardUVA Community Outreach Award

LuminaryLuminary

SOME EXAMPLES OF MERCI PRESENTATIONS AND SOME EXAMPLES OF MERCI PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDSAWARDS

WHO PROFITS FROM WHO PROFITS FROM MERCI MERCI ??

HOSPITALHOSPITAL

RESEARCH LABSRESEARCH LABSMISSIONSMISSIONS

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POTENTIALPOTENTIAL

THE WORLD NEEDS TO BE PREPARED FOR THE WORLD NEEDS TO BE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES AND MERCI CAN HELP.EMERGENCIES AND MERCI CAN HELP.

PICTURE FROM INTERNET OF 911PICTURE FROM INTERNET OF 911

SUGGESTIONS FOR EMERGENCY SUGGESTIONS FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SPEARHEADED BY DOCTORS PREPAREDNESS SPEARHEADED BY DOCTORS

AND NURSES IN THE ALL COMMUNITIESAND NURSES IN THE ALL COMMUNITIES

1. FIRST AID SUPPLIES TO BE STORED AT 1. FIRST AID SUPPLIES TO BE STORED AT CHURCHESCHURCHES

2. NATIONAL WEBSITE TO COORDINATE 2. NATIONAL WEBSITE TO COORDINATE LOCATION OF PERSONNEL AND SUPPLIES. LOCATION OF PERSONNEL AND SUPPLIES. COULD BE USED DURING “PEACE TIME” OR COULD BE USED DURING “PEACE TIME” OR EMERGENCIES.EMERGENCIES.

NOTE: INTERESTING DONATION TO U.S. ARMYNOTE: INTERESTING DONATION TO U.S. ARMY

PLAYERS IN A NATIONAL WEBSITE PLAYERS IN A NATIONAL WEBSITE PROGRAMPROGRAM

MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANYS / REPSMEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANYS / REPS

MISSIONS / NGO’SMISSIONS / NGO’S

HEALTHCARE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALSPROFESSIONALS

VOLUNTEERSVOLUNTEERS

NURSES ESPECIALLY OR NURSES / PARRISH NURSES ESPECIALLY OR NURSES / PARRISH NURSESNURSESDOCTORS AND SURGEONSDOCTORS AND SURGEONS

UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY HOSPITALSHOSPITALS

HCWHHCWHRED CROSS / FEMA / ETC.RED CROSS / FEMA / ETC.

GOLD WASTE EXISTS AT EVERY GOLD WASTE EXISTS AT EVERY HOSPITAL, MERCI CAN HELP YOU HOSPITAL, MERCI CAN HELP YOU

FIND ITFIND IT

MERCI IS FOR THEMMERCI IS FOR THEM

MERCI CONTINUESMERCI CONTINUES

MERCIMERCI

YOUYOU