Patients and staff at the Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic now have a way to easily dispose of unwanted and outdated medications, thanks to the installation of a new "MedSafe" near the clinic's lobby March 3.
The MedSafe-a dark blue container similar in appearance to a mailbox-is a 38-gallon medication disposal receptacle that allows patients to properly dispose of expired and unwanted medications.
For years the clinic's pharmacy participated in initiatives to protect beneficiaries and the environment like Drug Disposal Take-Back Days. While those annual initiatives will continue, patrons need not wait for designated dates to dispose of unwanted drugs, according to U.S. Army Capt. Dana Bal, the clinic's pharmacy chief.
"Previously Rader Clinic had [Drug Disposal] Take-Back Days, which are only semi-annual events, so having the MedSafe inside the main entrance of Rader Clinic means there will be a place for patients to properly dispose of their medication year round in one centralized location," Bal said. "Patients will know that when Rader Clinic is open, the MedSafe is also available for use."
MedSafe provides an easy, safe and secure prescription drug disposal method, already used at locations including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center at Fort George G. Meade, Bal said.
"Compounds of prescriptions decompose just like everything else over time, so patients who take them are at risk of these prescriptions not working properly as expired drugs lose their stability and effectiveness," Bal said. "But also if they are disposed of improperly, prescriptions could get into our water system and end up hurting the environment."
More than 14,000 beneficiaries receive medication from the pharmacy at Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic, according to Bal. That means thousands of expired and unwanted prescription drugs could be stockpiled in beneficiaries' homes that could pose a risk to patients and the environment, she said.
In an email, Bal explained that medications disposed via MedSafe are contained within a stainless steel receptacle, eliminating a chance that the drugs could contaminate water sources and reduces risk of diversion or harm. Likewise, the medications collected from the MedSafe are incinerated, rendering pharmaceuticals non-retrievable, she wrote.
Patrons can use MedSafe to deposit the following Schedule II-V Controlled Substances:
-Prescription medications
-Over-the-counter medications
-Vitamins
-Medicated lotions/ointments
-Liquid medications (must be placed in leak-proof bag)
-Transdermal skin patches
Items that cannot be disposed of in the MedSafe:
-Needles (e.g. epinephrine autoinjector, syringes, etc.)
-Inhalers
-Thermometers
-Contraband drugs
-Infectious waste/medical waste
-Personal care products
-Hydrogen peroxide
-Aerosol cans
-Business waste (e.g. trash, paper, etc.)
Pharmacy technicians the Pentagram spoke with said the number of patients on any given day receiving an initial prescription, refill or renewal is consistent, so the MedSafe is a convenient investment for both Rader Clinic and an aging population.
"It's amazing how powerful a small pill can be in helping people keep up with their health, but once they expire, the potency is not the same," said Devone Butler, a pharmacy technician at Rader Clinic. "The MedSafe should serve as a constant reminder of that to our patients."
The MedSafe is located on the first-floor of Rader Clinic in the main entrance. Expired or unwanted medications can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. If a patient is unsure of what type of medications/substances can be disposed of in the MedSafe they can call 703-696-3540.
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