Photo By Douglas Stutz | Medication Disposal with MedSafe is available at Naval Hospital Bremerton, accepting...... read more read more
Naval Hospital Bremerton’s (NHB) Pharmacy has recently implemented two innovative programs to safely handle discarded medications and help dispense pre-ordered prescriptions.
NHB is piloting a patient medication takeback program. A ‘MedSafe’ medication disposal container is now located in the outpatient pharmacy lobby and is available during normal hours of pharmacy operation, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
According to Sharon Marker, NHB Pharmacy Inventory Manager, anyone who has medication that they don’t want or need can bring them in to dispose of properly.
“We did this so anyone who has been holding expired meds or drugs they no longer need will have a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs,” said Marker.
Acceptable medications for disposal include pills, tables, capsules, ointments, creams, lotions, and powders. Liquid medicines no more than four ounces may also be disposed, but must be in their original containers, wrapped in a paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag before being placed in MedSafe.
“We do accept Schedule II-V substances now like Percocet, so patients no longer need to go to the Kitsap County Sheriff's office. Also, our providers can now instruct patients to dispose of their medication in the bin if they feel they should no longer be on it. That said, our staff will not take medications from patients and dispose of it for them. That is against policy,” said Lt. Zachery Hearns, NHB Pharmacy officer.
“It's also more important to specify what is not okay. We don't accept sharps, including auto-injectors like epinephrine, fluids over 4 ounces, or aerosols including albuterol inhalers. These things must be disposed of by the patients,” stated Hearns.
Sharps are defined as needles, syringes, scalpels, lancets, and intravenous tubing with needles attached, whether used or not.
MedSafe is not for Illicit drugs specifically Schedule 1 controlled substances - drugs or another substance with a high potential for abuse - such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
The program is also not for chemotherapy waste or other medical waste in receptacles. Other items not taken include batteries, aerosol spray cans, trash or hazardous materials, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, mercury thermometers, or chemicals.
“We also hope to continue to educate the general public about the potential for abuse of medications,” added Marker.
Yet perhaps the major benefit of having the patient medication takeback program available is that the safe collection also with environmental stewardship by everyone involved in the process.
“This is a great program in regards to environmental stewardship and proof that the Navy is serious about protection of the environment,” said Ramon Calantas, NHB Environment Technician, citing a U.S. Geological Survey report that found contaminants from pharmaceuticals were detected in water and soil worldwide by scientists.
“Chemicals in medications enter the environment through secretion and disposal of unused pharmaceuticals in sewers, septic tanks, and landfills. Treatment plants are not equipped to remove the pharmaceutical compounds before releasing into local waters. Disposal of pharmaceuticals into landfills only postpone the pollution of groundwater. Eventually these will leachate into the groundwater. Proper disposal of unused and unwanted pharmaceutical will reduce the amount of pharmaceutical compounds flowing into our waterways. Collection and incineration is the best alternative to reducing pharmaceuticals from the environment,” concluded Calantas.
Along with the new MedSafe disposal option, NHB employees with DoD prescription benefits can access the command’s internal web-based SharePoint site to submit refill requests. This is an additional option to that of the telephone refill line and/or TRICARE online.
The service is for NHB employees that have pharmacy benefits, Composite Health Care System (CHCS) prescriptions, are processing refills or new prescriptions already entered by the provider into CHCS to be picked up at NHB’s outpatient pharmacy.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Parsons, NHB Pharmacy Department head, attests that the idea for having such a service to staff initially came during leadership rounds, where it was shared that such a capability was already in place at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune.
“We contacted them and then set about to make it happen here. Will Seward took it on to develop and Pharmacy validated the functionality and determined that it’s robust enough to implement. A big thank you to Mr. Will Seward, Ms. Peggy Hall, and the Information Management Department team for their assistance in this effort! This is an option that directly benefits staff, as well as their family, by eliminating a step and saving time,” said Parsons, noting that the caveat in using the service is that the prescription – whether refill or new - must already be in the system.
“There still might be times that the Pharmacy will have to contact the staff member to discuss the medication request. We could have questions on the therapeutics of the order, such as ensuring the person aware of potential side-effects,” added Parsons.
Requests submitted prior to 11 a.m. will be ready at the NHB outpatient pharmacy after 3:30 p.m. the following day.
‘However, if someone needs the medication that day, their best bet is to go to the window(s). This new system is designed for next-day service,” stressed Parsons.
With July being recognized by Navy Medicine as Health Innovation Month, these two innovative programs at NHB’s Pharmacy continue to improve convenience and experience to better serve Sailors, Marines and their families.
One unneeded prescription drop-off and one needed medication pickup at a time.
| Date Taken: | 07.22.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.25.2016 15:59 |
| Story ID: | 204979 |
| Location: | BREMERTON, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 768 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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