Improving patient outcomes
The clinical teams within hospitals and health systems are incredibly aware of the risks associated with unused medications. They treat children who are brought to their emergency rooms after accidental ingestions; they care for older adults who take old medications by mistake because they did not dispose of a medication after a dosage change; and they provide life-saving measures for patients who overdose either intentionally or accidentally.
Holistic approach to disposal education
While DisposeRx is incorporated into Opioid Stewardship programs throughout hospitals around the country, the impetus can be driven by several different departments. In some hospitals, anesthesia and pain management providers are the drivers of disposal education efforts, while in others, they can be surgeons, nurse navigators, pharmacists, hospitalists or others. We have learned that it takes commitment and investment from the entire administrative and clinical teams to launch and sustain the most effective medication disposal programs. And we will share best practices and support the needs—whether the packets are simply being offered at the pharmacy or through multiple channels within the hospital.
Research points to strong utilization
Hospitals and health systems are eager to prove the return on investment for any investment [AH1] and also to illustrate the value of safety programs. Therefore, several of them have launched research projects using DisposeRx packets and published their results in peer-reviewed journals. Studies conducted by the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and Shriners for Children Medical Center in Pasadena, CA, showed that patients are more likely to dispose of unused medication when provided with a disposal tool in conjunction with education about the risks associated with keeping unused medication in the home. Visit the research page to learn more about how DisposeRx helps to encourage medication disposal when provided in conjunction with education.
Acute pain management specialists John M. Edwards, III, ADNP, CRNA, and Stace Dollar, ADNP, CRNA, recently completed research projects on the most effective medication disposal solutions and the importance of accompanying education, respectively.
Product availablility
DisposeRx at-home medication disposal packets are currently available to pharmacies through DisposeRxDirect.com and wholesalers like AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and others.
Drug Disposal Systems for HEalth Systems
Reducing the risks associated with unused medications in the home is one way of helping to keep family members and friends safe. We are proud to partner with pharmacy and healthcare leaders, as well as community organizations, to help educate about the importance of prompt and proper medication disposal.
Please contact DisposeRx, Inc., if you would like additional information about our product or education initiatives.
