Number of hospital beds : population estimate, installed capacity and performed in two mesoregions of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2015

Introduction: Planning health resources in a continental country like Brazil demands adapting the structures to different regions and their needs. Objective: To compare the installed hospital structure (number of existing beds) with the health care parameters proposed by the Brazilian national health system (estimated beds) and the beds per activity performed in two mesoregions of the state of Rio de Janeiro in 2015. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis with data obtained from the information systems of the Brazilian national health system. Results: An excess of hospital beds was identified (208.9% of the ideal average, per activity performed), low occupancy rates (24.2% below the ideal average) and irregular distribution between the mesoregions. Conclusions: The unequal division of resources unrelated to population demands results in higher health care costs and undermines the universality of access and integrality of the care

Number of hospital beds : population estimate, installed capacity and performed in two mesoregions of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2015

Introduction: Planning health resources in a continental country like Brazil demands adapting the structures to different regions and their needs. Objective: To compare the installed hospital structure (number of existing beds) with the health care parameters proposed by the Brazilian national health system (estimated beds) and the beds per activity performed in two mesoregions of the state of Rio de Janeiro in 2015. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis with data obtained from the information systems of the Brazilian national health system. Results: An excess of hospital beds was identified (208.9% of the ideal average, per activity performed), low occupancy rates (24.2% below the ideal average) and irregular distribution between the mesoregions. Conclusions: The unequal division of resources unrelated to population demands results in higher health care costs and undermines the universality of access and integrality of the care

Hospital waste: can we reduce the environmental impact of a large university hospital?

Introduction: As technology advances, society must reflect on the destination of materials which are no longer needed. Hospital waste requires special attention due to the associated risk of disease transmission and biological accidents. Also, it tends to increase proportionally to the economic development and is associated with increased use of disposable material. The purpose of this study is to analyze the management of hospital waste at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) and to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of the measures adopted by the institution to mitigate the impact of its waste on the environment.Methods: Observational study with field research. Hospital waste management is divided into generation, disposal, storage and final destination.Results: Between 2010 and 2015, the HCPA produced 21.4 tons of biological and sharps waste, 23,000 liters of chemical waste and 113,9 tons of solid waste per month. The main improvements include the implementation of a inspection of the hospital’s waste bins every 2 months, a reduction from 29.42% to 2.79% in the rate of inappropriate disposal of hazardous waste, a 313% increase in investments in staff training, the expansion and adaptation of external areas for temporary storage of hospital waste and the collection of more than 1 ton of waste generated by the local community (sharps, X-ray films, kitchen oil, batteries), as well as the establishment of contracts which will guarantee the appropriate treatment of all types of health care waste. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that mitigating the impact of hospital waste on the environment is possible and should encourage the adoption of similar measures at other institutions.Keywords: Health care quality management; environmental management; hospital administration; medical wasteIntroduction: As technology advances, society must reflect on the destination of materials which are no longer needed. Hospital waste requires special attention due to the associated risk of disease transmission and biological accidents. Also, it tends to increase proportionally to the economic development and is associated with increased use of disposable material. The purpose of this study is to analyze the management of hospital waste at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) and to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of the measures adopted by the institution to mitigate the impact of its waste on the environment.Methods: Observational study with field research. The management of hospital waste is divided into generation, disposal, storage and final destination.Results: Between 2010 and 2015, the HCPA produced 21.4 tons of biological and sharps waste, 23,000 liters of chemical waste and 113,9 tons of solid waste per month. The main improvements include the implementation of a inspection of the hospital’s waste bins every 2 months, a reduction from 29.42% to 2.79% in the rate of inappropriate disposal of hazardous waste, a 313% increase in investments in staff training, the expansion and adaptation of external areas for temporary storage of hospital waste and the collection of more than 1 ton of waste generated by the local community (sharps, X-ray films, kitchen oil, batteries), as well as the establishment of contracts which will guarantee the appropriate treatment of all types of health care waste. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that mitigating the impact of hospital waste on the environment is possible and should encourage the adoption of similar measures at other institutions.Keywords: Health care quality management; environmental management; hospital administration; medical waste

Hospital waste : can we reduce the environmental impact of a large university hospital?

Introduction: As technology advances, society must reflect on the destination of materials which are no longer needed. Hospital waste requires special attention due to the associated risk of disease transmission and biological accidents. Also, it tends to increase proportionally to the economic development and is associated with increased use of disposable material. The purpose of this study is to analyze the management of hospital waste at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) and to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of the measures adopted by the institution to mitigate the impact of its waste on the environment. Methods: Observational study with field research. Hospital waste management is divided into generation, disposal, storage and final destination. Results: Between 2010 and 2015, the HCPA produced 21.4 tons of biological and sharps waste, 23,000 liters of chemical waste and 113,9 tons of solid waste per month. The main improvements include the implementation of a inspection of the hospital’s waste bins every 2 months, a reduction from 29.42% to 2.79% in the rate of inappropriate disposal of hazardous waste, a 313% increase in investments in staff training, the expansion and adaptation of external areas for temporary storage of hospital waste and the collection of more than 1 ton of waste generated by the local community (sharps, X-ray films, kitchen oil, batteries), as well as the establishment of contracts which will guarantee the appropriate treatment of all types of health care waste. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that mitigating the impact of hospital waste on the environment is possible and should encourage the adoption of similar measures at other institutions

La Crónica : diario de noticias y anuncios: Año VII Número 1864 - Día 22 Mes octubre Año 1891

Copia digital. Madrid : Ministerio de Cultura. Subdirección General de Coordinación Bibliotecaria, 200