Networking for Ideas

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Networking for Ideas Results MIRTPuget Sound
Medical Industry Waste Prevention Roundtable

• Cathy Buller, Networking Lead, PPRC
• Pacific NW Pollution Prevention Resource Center
• cbuller_at_pprc.org 206-352-2050 Seattle,
  WA
• Presented October 28, 2004
• Northwest Health Care Pollution Prevention
  Conference, Boise, ID

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What is MIRT?

• Collaborative Effort with Puget Sound health
  care providers, public agencies, consultants, and
  non-profits
• MIRT Mission
• Bring together medical and life science
  professionals, and those who work with them
• Explore cost-effective, environmentally sound
  solutions to environmental management challenges
• MIRT Puget Sound Medical Industry Waste
  Prevention Roundtable

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What Does MIRT Provide?

• Environmental Management Seminars
• Peer-tested technologies and techniques
• Info about recent regulatory changes
• Structured networking opportunities
• On-Line Information
• Past seminar presentations
• Things You Can Do Now lists
• Links to resources contacts
• Technical Assistance and Referrals

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MIRT Audience

• Health Care Industry
• Hospitals, Clinics
• Life Sciences (biotech, research)
• Pharmacists, Laboratories, Veterinarians more
• Those who work with them
• Government technical assistance compliance
• Consultants
• Educational institutions
• Non-profits associations
• Rarely manufacturers, vendors and service
  providers

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Typical MIRT Topics

• Managing Medical Plastics
• Managing On-Site Chemicals
• Measuring Waste Accounting for Total Costs
• Mercury Reduction
• Pharmaceutical Waste Management
• Solid Waste Reduction

• Cleaners Disinfectants
• Electronic Waste
• Energy Water Management
• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
• Green Remodeling Construction
• Integrated Pest Management

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Upcoming MIRT Seminar Topics

• December 15, 2004
• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Seattle,
  WA
• 2005
• Pharmaceutical Waste
• Reprocessed Med. Devices
• Reducing Biomedical Waste
• Clean Med 2006
• Not a MIRT-organized event
• National health care waste reduction conference
• April 2006, Seattle, WA

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Why Focus on Health Care?

• Well-educated individuals oriented toward health
  safety
• Present in every community
• Many opportunities for reducing cost, quantity,
  and risks
• Hazardous materials waste
• Biomedical waste
• Solid waste
• Energy and water use
• Support JCAHO AHA / EPA expectations for
  environmental mgmt
• Support Do No Harm directive
• With patients, staff, visitors
• In community, region world

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MIRTs Origins 1999

• Monthly meetings, 6-20 people
• Hospital biotech recycling coordinators
• County staff their consultant
• Government business reps
• Original focus solid waste (plastics paper
  recycling)
• Added other topics (laundry services, lab
  glassware, haz. chemicals)
• Created e-mail contact list, website news list
  serve
• Launched seminars to share info with a larger
  group of peers

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What Makes MIRT Run?

• Steering Committee
• Facilitator
• Seminar Planning

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MIRT Steering Committee

• Health Care Representatives
• Local Hospitals Clinics
• Biotech/Research Facilities
• Public Agency Representatives
• City/County Public Health Dept.
• Local Haz. Waste Mgmt. Program
• State Dept. of Ecology
• U.S. EPA Region 10
• Other Representatives
• Health Care Waste Consultants
• Insurance Industry
• Medical Schools
• Non-profit Organizations
• State Hospital Association

• Meet bimonthly
• Free meeting space conference call phone
• Members recruited by word-of-mouth
• Some participants volunteer
• For others, its part of the job description
• High level of trust, quality enjoyment

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MIRT Facilitator

• Support Steering Committee
• Plan publicize meetings
• Facilitate document meetings
• Update MIRT website
• Maintain MIRT mailing list
• Communicate with regional national contacts
• MIRTs only paid position
• 15K 20K/yr (from EPA State Dept. of Ecology)
  
• 10-25 hrs/wk

• Coordinate seminars
• Schedule facilitate planning committee meetings
• Create/update draft agendas
• Handle meeting site logistics
• Create disseminate publicity (e-mail pdf
  flyer)
• Create standard handouts (agenda, speaker
  contacts, evaluation form)
• Post-seminar tasks (evaluation summary, attendee
  list, speaker thanks)

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MIRT Seminar Planning

• Volunteer planning team
• 3 people from steering committee, plus
  facilitator
• Plan agenda key points
• Recruit speakers
• Oversee/do resource handouts
• Meet 3-5 times prior to event
• Donated and in-kind
• Seminar space refreshments
• Copying publicity
• Planners speakers

• Seminar Format
• Half-day, 8am start
• Same place each time
• Roundtable format
• Plenty of discussion time
• Generous breaks (productive time to talk)
• Practical case studies, tools resources

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Challenges for MIRT

• Primary
• Future funding
• Availability of shared in-kind resources
• Whether/how to take on tasks other than seminars
• Secondary (far behind)
• Maintaining broad participation
• Outreach marketing
• Identifying needs

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Benefits of MIRT

• Learn with/from each other
• Support JCAHO AHA / EPA expectations for
  envl management
• Support Do No Harm Directive
• With patients, staff, visitors
• In community, region world
• Since Jan. 2000 Nearly 20 seminars for 600
  people

• Practical emphasis on real opportunities for
  change
• Behavior, practices, costs, risks
• Awareness, communication, action
• Inexpensive format
• Great speakers, tools, resources, networking

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Networking for Ideas and Results

• MIRT website www.nwmedicalwaste.org
• MIRT brochure available here
• MIRT how-to guide available soon
• MIRT seminar e-mail MIRT brochure or guide
  cbuller_at_pprc.org /206-352-2050
• And now
• Brainstorm YOUR Interests Opportunities