Title: Managing medical waste technology: how US hospitals adapted to change

Authors: Dean F. Eitel

Addresses: 1732 N Wilshire Lane, Arlington Heights, IL 60004, USA

Abstract: A total of 78 US hospitals responded to a survey in a nation-wide sample for the purpose of analysing their medical waste technology management practices under changing laws and regulations in the early 1990s. Findings show that 77% of these hospitals implemented changes in one or more of their operations in storage, treatment, handling, transport and disposal of medical waste and staff training because of federal, state or local laws. The article includes backgrounds of those responsible for managing this technology, various hospital problems encountered, benefits and costs of implementing these laws, and roles of infectious control committees. A brief discussion of the US Medical Waste Tracking Act is included. Global implications and future needs are also discussed.

Keywords: medical waste; policy window; health care technology; US hospitals; public policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1998.002608

International Journal of Technology Management, 1998 Vol.15 No.3/4/5, pp.402-420

Published online: 29 Jul 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article