[Pharmwaste] FW: EPA's Health Care Industry Survey on Pharmaceutical Disposal Practices

[Evin Guy]

-----Original Message-----
From: Goodwin.Janet at epamail.epa.gov
[mailto:Goodwin.Janet at epamail.epa.gov]
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 11:06 AM


August 29, 2008

      Dear Health Care Industry Representatives:

      The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Headquarters, Office of Water, will be hosting three teleconferences to
inform Health Care Industry representatives about our proposed survey of
specific sectors of the Health Care Industry.  We would like you and
your Health Care Industry partners to participate in these
teleconferences.  These teleconferences will be held from 1:00 pm until
3:00 Eastern Time on the following dates:

   Directly Affected Facilities: Thursday, September 11, 2008 and
      Tuesday, September 16, 2008.
   Open to All Interested Parties: Thursday, September 18, 2008

      As part of EPA's Health Care Industry Study, we intend to survey
hospitals, long term care facilities, hospices and veterinary hospitals
to better understand the issues surrounding disposal of unused
pharmaceuticals to the sewer.  The purpose of these
meetings/teleconferences is to explain the scope of the study and the
process for obtaining the necessary approval to conduct the survey.:

      Currently, EPA intends to conduct this data collection survey in
late Spring/early Summer 2009.  We anticipate having two distinct
questionnaires, one questionnaire tailored to medical facilities and a
second questionnaire tailored to veterinary facilities.  Medical
facilities include hospitals, hospices, and long-term care facilities
while veterinary facilities include veterinary hospitals.

      Specific questions we are asking in the questionnaires include:

What are the current industry practices in regards to disposal of unused
   pharmaceuticals?
What factors influence your current disposal practices?
What Best Management Practices (BMPs) are used to manage excess, expired
   and unwanted medications disposal?
Do you have quantitative or qualitative information on the costs
   associated with BMPs?
Which pharmaceuticals are being disposed of, how and in what quantities
   on a monthly basis?

      We would appreciate your pre-registration to reserve a space at
this teleconference by September 8, 2008.  To register, send the
following information by email to:  alicea.jezebele at epa.gov.

      Name:.
      Affiliation:
      Email Address:
      Phone number::
      City and State:
      Which meeting time you expect to attend:

      Confirmation will be sent by email to all registered participants.
The teleconference number and access code and additional information
related to the calls will also be mailed back to you.

      Please feel free to share this e-mail with others that might wish
to participate on any of the scheduled calls and note we plan to hold a
total of three calls with the first two of them focused on meeting with
organizations that will be possible recipients of the survey or their
representatives.  You can find more information regarding the Health
Care Industry Study at the following website,
http://www.epa.gov/guide/304m/#hsi.

      If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call or send me
an e-mail.  I look forward to talking with you at one of upcoming
meetings.

      Janet Goodwin, Chief
Technology and Statistics Branch
Engineering & Analysis Division (4303T)
U.S. EPA
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20460

202-566-1060
FAX:  202-566-1053