Comprehensive healthcare waste assessment system

• US 7,627,487 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Healthcare Waste Solutions LLC (Stericycle Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Healthcare Waste Solutions LLC (Stericycle Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mayernik, Geoffrey D., Crawford, Jeff D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung; Allen J
• Application Number:
  US11/624,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/400
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus and program product analyzes medical waste processes by determining waste cost information for a number of waste streams. The waste cost pricing information is organized, formatted, associated or otherwise processed for presentation in a manner that facilitates waste cost analysis.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of assessing medical waste processes, the method comprising:

receiving user input including waste stream investigation data collected at points of generation and collection for a plurality of waste streams, wherein the waste stream investigation data includes time and location data associated with current waste disposal practices for a plurality of containers;

receiving user input including contractual and invoice data associated with the current waste disposal practices for the plurality of waste streams and particular to the plurality of containers;

storing the received waste stream investigation data and contractual and invoice data in a database, wherein the database is resident in a computer of the type including at least one hardware-implemented processor;

receiving user input from a user to obtain requested pricing information for products or services associated with the plurality of waste streams;

retrieving the requested pricing information by accessing the database, wherein the database stores pricing information associated with a plurality of waste products and waste services associated with the plurality of waste streams;

outputting the requested pricing information to the user; and

Using the hardware-implemented processor, accessing waste stream investigation data and contractual and invoice data stored in the database and generating therefrom, by the processor, a report including at least one operational improvement recommendation and a projected cost savings associated therewith.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the report includes a listing of multiple containers being used at a facility.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the report includes a waste recommendation that includes generating an invoice accounting for at least two of the plurality of waste streams.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the report includes a waste recommendation to improve the medical waste process.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein the pricing information includes a comparison between operating costs with the waste recommendation and operating costs without.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the requested pricing information further comprises retrieving compliance data pertinent to the one of the plurality of waste streams.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising using the requested pricing information to determine a waste recommendation.

8. A computer implemented method of assessing medical waste processes, the method comprising:

determining pricing information for a plurality of waste streams, including determining waste stream investigation data collected at points of generation and collection for a plurality of waste streams and determining contractual and invoice data associated with the current waste disposal practices for the plurality of waste streams and particular to the plurality of containers, wherein the waste stream investigation data includes time and location data associated with current waste disposal practices for a plurality of containers;

storing the pricing information within a database configured to store pricing information associated with a plurality of waste products and waste services associated with the plurality of waste streams, wherein the database is resident in a computer of the type including at least one hardware-implemented processor;

presenting the pricing information in a manner that facilitates waste cost analysis; and

Using the hardware-implemented processor, accessing the waste stream investigation data and contractual and invoice data stored in the database and generating therefrom, by the processor, a report including at least one operational improvement recommendation and a projected cost savings associated therewith.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, further comprising determining a waste recommendation using the pricing information.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein determining the waste recommendation further includes automatically determining the waste recommendation by retrieving from a memory the waste recommendation subsequent to receiving the pricing information.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein prompting the user to input the pricing information further comprises prompting the user to input data relating to a contract, an invoice and a discrepancy between the contract and the invoice.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein prompting the user to input the pricing information further comprises prompting the user to input data relating to an invoice.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein prompting the user to input the pricing information further comprises prompting the user to input data relating to a discrepancy between a contract and an invoice.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including a database storing pricing information associated with a plurality of waste products and waste services associated with a plurality of waste streams; and

program code executable by the processor and configured to initiate receiving user input including waste stream investigation data collected at points of generation and collection for the plurality of waste streams, wherein the waste stream investigation data includes time and location data associated with current waste disposal practices for a plurality of containers;

receiving user input including contractual and invoice data associated with the current waste disposal practices for the plurality of waste streams and particular to the plurality of containers;

storing the received waste stream investigation data and contractual and invoice data in the database;

receiving user input from a user to obtain requested pricing information for products or services associated with the plurality of waste streams, retrieving the requested pricing information by accessing the database;

outputting the requested pricing information to the user; and

accessing waste stream investigation data and contractual and invoice data stored in the database and generating therefrom a report including at least one operational improvement recommendation and a projected cost savings associated therewith.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of waste streams include at one waste stream selected from a group consisting of:

solid, regulated medical, recycling, confidential document destruction, hazardous and construction debris waste streams.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the program code is further configured to initiate determining a waste recommendation based on the pricing information by retrieving the waste recommendation from the memory.

15. A program product, comprising:

program code configured to initiate receiving user input including waste stream investigation data collected at points of generation and collection for the plurality of waste streams, wherein the waste stream investigation data includes time and location data associated with current waste disposal practices for a plurality of containers;

receiving user input including contractual and invoice data associated with the current waste disposal practices for the plurality of waste streams and particular to the plurality of containers;

storing the received waste stream investigation data and contractual and invoice data in a database;

receiving user input from a user to obtain requested pricing information for products or services associated with a plurality of waste streams, retrieving the requested pricing information by accessing a database storing pricing information associated with a plurality of waste products and waste services associated with the plurality of waste streams;

outputting the requested pricing information to the user; and

accessing waste stream investigation data and contractual and invoice data stored in the database and generating therefrom a report including at least one operational improvement recommendation and a projected cost savings associated therewith; and

a recordable computer readable medium bearing the program code.