Bag To Bedside

Point-of-use clinical waste disposal, effective segregation and safe educated staff? Yes, this is absolutely achievable!

Clinical waste disposal should be handled with as few touch points as possible to minimise the risk of infection. It is known that the regular removal of infectious, offensive and all other types of waste from ward-level is paramount to the safety of patient, staff and visitor environment. Furthermore, the effective segregation of these different waste streams not only drives efficient and CQC guideline compliant healthcare waste movement and disposal practices, but it also has a direct impact on costs, staff safety, and environmental impact – factors that we are deeply committed to. Sharpsmart’s ‘Bag to Bedside’ program sits at the core of our offering – driving daily effective change within the four walls of healthcare facilities that delivers safety to staff and patients. Let us show you how….

Interrupting human behaviour

In the split second you have to decide “which bin to put it in”, segregation mistakes can easily be made. When speed and focus on patient care is the number priority, we have to make it easy for clinicians to make the right waste disposal choice. Our solutions are designed to dramatically reduce segregation error, reducing costs of incorrectly disposed non-conforming waste and increasing compliance with HTM 07-01.

Waste bags & containers at the point of use

One of the greatest inhibitors to segregation effectiveness is location and distance. If the correct containment is not accessible at the point of disposal, the waste usually goes into 'the closest bin'. Having bags and containers accessible at patient bedside where waste is generated gives clinical staff confidence to deposit waste into the most appropriate waste stream without taking the lowest risk approach.

Innovation that supports mobility

It’s just not practical to “walk down the hallway to the soiled utility room” after every procedure; waste management needs to live within the ward at the intersection of patient care. Our range of trolleys, bag holders and accessories enable waste to be disposed of at the time of procedure, minimising risk to healthcare staff in sharps or waste relocation, and optimising labour efficiency through point-of-care disposal.

Different colours. Different Waste Streams

In a glance… it has to be easy for nursing staff! Every waste stream has a distinct compliance, environmental and safety impact, it needs to be very clear in the blink of an eye “which bag does it belong in”. We ensure that the bags provided for each unique waste stream have a distinct colour code that is easily identified.

Eliminating other waste disposal options

A core component of our waste mapping processes is determining a clear pathway correct segregation. The reality is, if you eliminate alternative options, you will naturally guide users towards the optimum disposal methodology. It’s important that clinical waste bins are removed from the patient environment, minimising the opportunity of non-compliant segregation.

Education that drives results

Containers + Colour coded bags + point of use education… the three components together drive segregation success. The Bag to Bedside system is supported by clear picture-illustrative educational posters and labels that provide clear instruction on waste segregation protocols. Education is customised according to facility and waste types generated ensuring it directly supports the education needs of clinical staff.

E-Learning for Continuous Improvement

Ongoing training is offered via a blended learning programme, educating clinical staff on waste categorisation and comprehensive assessment tests. Our five-step methodology training educates users on clear steps to safe and effective segregation and the most efficient means of compliantly managing different waste streams.

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IMPROVED PATIENT EXPERIENCE

No bins in wards deliver a cleaner & more hygienic environment.

REDUCED INFECTION RISK

Reduced cleaning required, & cross-contamination risk eliminated

REDUCED CLINICAL WASTE

50% waste diversion to offensive & domestic waste streams delivers a significant reduction in waste cost & reduced spend on waste bin purchasing & cleaning.

"We've seen a 20% waste reduction..."

The introduction of the Bag to Bedside system has not only created a cleaner ward environment and more pleasurable patient experience, it has ensured that we have made significant reductions in both waste treatment costs and clinical waste output. Initial estimates following rollout show that we have diverted close to 50% of orange bag waste to the offensive and domestic waste streams, which has resulted in a 20% reduction in our costs for these waste streams.

Jeff Trevor, Waste Manager

University Hospitals of the North Midlands NHS Trust

What is included?

BAGS

Colour-Coded bags for each waste stream

DISPENSERS

Bag dispensers with instructional labels

POSTERS

Colour-Coded Segregation posters

E-LEARNING

E-Learning Platform to train clinical staff

The Sharpsmart Bag to Bedside programme is revolutionary not only in its approach but in the successful waste diversion and cost reduction results it has achieved for countless UK acute care facilities.

The Bag to Bedside programme is charged at a monthly subscription fee which includes a site analysis of location requirements, installation of equipment, equipment rental, quarterly audits and education development. Each department is provided with a competency development pack that includes training records, e-learning access, stock ordering instruction and hard copy training materials. If you are interested in seeing how the Bag to Bedside programme can drive waste diversion in your facility, contact us today.

CALL enquiries@sharpsmart.co.uk

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Bag To Bedside

Point-of-use clinical waste disposal, effective segregation and safe educated staff? Yes, this is absolutely achievable!

Reduce costs as much as 20%

Bag to Bedside drives significant reductions in costs and waste volumes

Higher Efficiency

Comprising a range of bespoke components and blended learning tools, including bag dispensers and waste labels, the Bag to Bedside solution is designed to promote higher levels of correct segregation efficiency.