Download Reaching Out To Hospice

Addressing Pharmaceuticals In Our
Water Systems
Recommendations for establishing
communication with local hospice providers to
educate the community about proper disposal
Provided by the Georgia Association for Water Professionals
Pharmaceuticals In Our Effluent
• An area of growing concern
• We can’t fix the problem now but we can work to
reduce the load coming into to our plants
• Address what you can and help prevent the practice
of flushing medications through education
• GAWP has established a partnership with hospice
providers & developed a toolkit to assist
Hospice Disposal Mandate
• Required to destroy all controlled substances
when a patient no longer requires the medication
• Drugs can not be donated due to potential
contamination issues
• Disposal needs to be low cost, quick, safe,
undisruptive, and legal
Pharmaceutical Disposal
• Hospice providers follow guidelines from the
federal government:
– Office of National Drug Control Policy
– FDA publishes a flush list
• Contradicting messages have led some
organizations to flush everything to ensure
compliance
Why Flush?
• No cost
• Quick
• Eliminates concern over diversion
(abuse/illegal sales)
• Prevents accidental poisoning
• Unaware of concerns associated with flushing
Partnership with GHPCO
GHPCO – GA Hospice & Palliative Care Organization
• Member organization for hospice industry
(like GAWP for water industry)
• Actively working across GA, reaching local
hospice providers with education & advocacy
• Partnering with GAWP to discourage flushing
Reaching Out to Hospice
GAWP’s Hospice Tool Kit for water utilities:
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Pharmaceutical Disposal Fact Sheet
Pharmaceutical Disposal Method
Proper Drug Disposal Presentation
Pharmaceutical Disposal How-to Video
Call for Volunteers
Establishing A Partnership
• Visit GHPCO’s online provider list to locate
providers operating in your jurisdiction
• Contact the Director of Nursing
• Offer to facilitate an education session on
proper drug disposal for their staff
Hospice Buy-in
Hospice providers have internal incentive to accept
your offer to educate staff:
• Required to conduct internal periodic reviews of their
drug disposal policy
• Pharmaceutical disposal policy must be provided to all
patients
• Drug disposal is part of the state license review process
covered by during recertification
What is an Education Session?
• Ask to be scheduled on their education calendar
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Most hospice providers conduct monthly sessions
Ask how many people to prepare for
Ask if you need to bring a laptop and projector
Education sessions are typically 30-60 minutes
Verify how much time you have for this presentation
• GAWP has developed a presentation & materials to share
with hospice staff
Needed to Facilitate…
• AV Equipment
• Proper Drug Disposal for Hospice Presentation
• Copies of Fact Sheet, Disposal Method &
Feedback Forms
• Example of Pharmaceutical Disposal Kit
Another Partnership Opportunity
• Hospice is required to use volunteers
• Water Utilities can help with volunteer recruitment
by promoting this opportunity with staff
– GAWP has developed a call for volunteers that member
utilities can use to help promote assisting local hospice
providers
Volunteers Needed
Local hospice providers are seeking support from the community to help patients and families receiving
hospice care. Did you know hospice providers are mandated by law to have 5% of patient care hours
provided by volunteers? Volunteer activities such as visiting with (reading, crafting) or providing a service for
(dog walking, yard work) patients are truly appreciated by patients and families facing life-limiting illness.
Hospice providers are also specifically looking for veterans to visit with veterans receiving hospice care.
Local water utilities are being encouraged by the Georgia Association of Water Professionals to reach out to
local hospice providers as part of our industry’s ongoing efforts to educate about proper pharmaceutical
disposal practices. With Hospice’s ongoing need for volunteers, water utilities have a unique opportunity to
partner with hospice organizations to encourage water protection practices and provide support to those in
our community in need of help.
Take a minute to consider what you could do to assist. To find a hospice provider in your area, visit
www.ghpco.org and click on the find care link. You will see a list by region of organizations you can contact.
Insert your utility here is working with Insert your hospice partner organization here. If you are interested in
volunteering with them, contact insert contact’s name/phone/email here.
Help GAWP Start A Movement
• While these materials were developed for
hospice, they are appropriate for the general
public
• GAWP has applied to receive endorsement from
the GA Board of Pharmacy for these materials
• Help your customers take responsible action to
prevent pollution locally