Pharmaceutical Waste Reduction Strategies
Relabel for home use
Medications are either prelabeled or relabeled for a patient to take home and use after being discharged from the facility. This strategy could apply to any prescription medication, but particularly to inhalers, creams, ointments, ear drops, antibiotics and sometimes insulin.
Reduces Amount: YesReduces Toxicity: No
Examples of Applying this Strategy
| Generic Drug: Insulin
Insulin pens and cartridges can be relabeled and sent home with discharged patients for future use, eliminating the need to dispose of the partially used drug. See page 52 Proprietary Drug(s): Humulin For more information: Healthcare Environmental Resource Center |
| Generic Drug: Albuterol
Inhalers were sent home with patients instead of disposing them at discharge. This decreased the amount of waste the hospital disposes, increased patient satisfaction, increased patient adherence to medication regimen and reduced readmissions to the hospital. Proprietary Drug(s): Ventolin, Proventil, AccuNeb, Vospire, ProAir For more information: Stouffer, Randi. "Inhaler Study Completed at St. Mary's Hospital, Madison, WI." April 2013. Randi Stouffer |
| Generic Drug: Budesonide/Formoterol
Inhalers were sent home with patients instead of disposing them at discharge. This decreased the amount of waste the hospital disposes, increased patient satisfaction, increased patient adherence to medication regimen and reduced readmissions to the hospital. Proprietary Drug(s): Symbicort For more information: Stouffer, Randi. "Inhaler Study Completed at St. Mary's Hospital, Madison, WI." April 2013. Randi Stouffer |
| Generic Drug: Tiotropium
Inhalers were sent home with patients instead of disposing them at discharge. This decreased the amount of waste the hospital disposes, increased patient satisfaction, increased patient adherence to medication regimen and reduced readmissions to the hospital. Proprietary Drug(s): Spiriva For more information: Stouffer, Randi. "Inhaler Study Completed at St. Mary's Hospital, Madison, WI." April 2013. Randi Stouffer |
| Generic Drug: Albuterol/Ipratropium
Inhalers were sent home with patients instead of disposing them at discharge. This decreased the amount of waste the hospital disposes, increased patient satisfaction, increased patient adherence to medication regimen and reduced readmissions to the hospital. Proprietary Drug(s): Combivent For more information: Stouffer, Randi. "Inhaler Study Completed at St. Mary's Hospital, Madison, WI." April 2013. Randi Stouffer |
| Generic Drug: Beclomethasone
Inhalers were sent home with patients instead of disposing them at discharge. This decreased the amount of waste the hospital disposes, increased patient satisfaction, increased patient adherence to medication regimen and reduced readmissions to the hospital. Proprietary Drug(s): Qvar For more information: Stouffer, Randi. "Inhaler Study Completed at St. Mary's Hospital, Madison, WI." April 2013. Randi Stouffer |
| Generic Drug: Flucticasone/Salmeterol
Inhalers were sent home with patients instead of disposing them at discharge. This decreased the amount of waste the hospital disposes, increased patient satisfaction, increased patient adherence to medication regimen and reduced readmissions to the hospital. Proprietary Drug(s): Advair For more information: Stouffer, Randi. "Inhaler Study Completed at St. Mary's Hospital, Madison, WI." April 2013. Randi Stouffer |
