Patients receiving hospital care are often quite ill, making them susceptible to acquiring bacteria that can cause infections during their stay or shortly after discharge. A recent study by the National Institutes of Health reveals a concerning rise in both hospital-acquired infections and resistance to the antibiotics used to treat them.
Providing more care out of the hospital by expanding at-home care services can help reduce these potential hospital-borne infections by removing higher-risk individuals to receive treatment in a home setting, rather than a hospital environment. However, with this shift comes a critical challenge: safely disposing of medical and pharmaceutical waste generated during at-home care.
The Rise of At-Home Care
As at-home care continues to rise, providers also face the added challenges and risks that come along with providing quality care in non-traditional healthcare environments, which includes properly managing regulated medical waste (RMW). Some patients and providers may lack the necessary resources, tools, or knowledge to handle this in an at-home care setting. This gap increases the risk of improper disposal, environmental harm, and safety hazards for patients and caregivers.
In 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) launched a waiver-based program for at-home healthcare services. Its initial success quickly transformed hospital-at-home programs from an experimental model into a strategic priority for health systems nationwide.
As of April 2024, CMS had authorized more than 320 hospitals across 133 health systems in 37 states to offer acute hospital care at home. The demand for at-home care is expected to keep growing, fueled by ongoing labor shortages in the healthcare sector, an aging population, and expanded Medicaid coverage. Between 2024 and 2032, the U.S. home healthcare services market is projected to grow 7.2% annually, from $100.95 billion to $176.30 billion.
Hospital-at-home services not only improve accessibility but also lower health risks. CMS released data in November 2023 that showed that patients who received hospital-level care at home had lower mortality rates and fewer complications than those treated for similar conditions in hospitals. The overall rate of patients transferred from home back to the hospital was 7.2%.
What’s Needed for Both Patients and Health Care Providers?
Proper disposal of RMW generated during patient care is critical to helping ensure a safe and healthy environment for healthcare workers and patients because it reduces the risks of infections and injuries such as needlesticks. To ensure the safe handling of at-home care waste, comprehensive education and training are essential. Healthcare organizations must equip their staff with the knowledge and confidence to properly segregate waste. Best practices include separating waste at the point of generation and standardizing policies and disposal processes.
What Solutions Does Stericycle Offer?
Stericycle provides specialized solutions to help patients and healthcare providers safely dispose of medical waste in at-home care settings.
For pharmaceutical waste disposal, patients can use Seal&Send™ Consumer Medication Mail-Back Envelopes. This anonymous and convenient option allows patients to send medications via pre-paid envelopes through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Since no DEA registration is required to purchase the envelopes, as long as they’re used by the patient (the ultimate user), Seal&Send™ helps prevent drug diversion while ensuring medications are destroyed through medical waste incineration, reducing environmental risks.
Stericycle also offers ways for patients and providers to conveniently collect and mail sharps (such as needles or syringes) from home. Stericycle offers mail-back solutions, which come in a variety of sizes and provide everything needed to collect and package the waste. The kits are authorized for use by the USPS and feature:
- Containers and plastic liners
- Step-by-step instructions
- Pre-addressed, postage-paid return shipping containers and labels
- Prepaid treatment
- Serialized shipping papers
Learn more about how Stericycle can help with proper medical and pharmaceutical waste disposal in home settings.
