Hospices collaborate for safe medication disposal

Hospices and palliative care programs often make use of powerful pain medications, including in home-based settings. Dumping unused resident medications down a sink or toilet can be dangerous, but letting them fall into the hands of an unauthorized person can be even worse.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), the National Hospice Foundation and Home Healthcare Solutions have partnered to launch an educational initiative for training nursing staff and families concerning the safe disposal of medication.

The program will be free to NHF and NHPCO members.

“Hospice professionals are committed to providing the most comprehensive, highest quality care to their patients and loved ones and are committed to ensuring that the care they provide is safe and effective. Appropriate medication disposal is a key component of that care. We’re so pleased to be able to offer this educational resource to our members,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of NHPCO in a press release.

Home Healthcare Solutions is providing some support for the program by contributing a portion of the sales of its Disposa-Script product, a medication disposal unit designed for hospice care environments.

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