METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPOSAL OF HOME GENERATED MEDICAL WASTE AND USED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
Systems and methods for efficient and effective disposal of home healthcare waste are disclosed, where the systems and methods use a coupon to redeem a pre-paid shipping label for shipping a full home healthcare waste receptacle to a disposal facility via a courier or delivery service.
Latest SHARPS COMPLIANCE, INC. Patents:
- Packaging designed to be a fuel component and methods for making and using same
- SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING CEMENT AND CEMENT DERIVED THEREFROM
- PACKAGING DESIGNED TO BE A FUEL COMPONENT AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME
- SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING CEMENT AND CEMENT DERIVED THEREFROM
- Packaging designed to be a fuel component and methods for making and using same
1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for the collecting and disposing of home generated used and/or unused medical waste and/or healthcare materials.
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for the collection and disposal of home generated used and/or unused medical waste and/or healthcare materials, where the systems and methods include a container including an outer member, a courier middle member, and an inner home healthcare disposable member for receiving home generated used and/or unused medical waste and/or healthcare materials. The containers are adapted to be placed in a retail establishment or pharmacy store or shipped to the patient by a pharmacy provider. The middle member and the receptacle are adapted to be delivered to a site or facility by a courier service for disposal, recycling, or repurposing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, the methods and systems used in the collection and disposal of home generated medical waste and used healthcare materials such as used or unused syringes, needles, lancets and other medical “sharps” includes a receptacle, without a shipping label for disposal or a more expensive receptacle including a shipping label for transportation and disposal purposes. Thus, the patient is either without a process for disposal of the waste material ,or must pay for the expensive disposal system directly.
Thus, there is a need in the art for more facile systems and methods for efficient and effective mechanisms for collecting and disposing of home generated medical waste and used healthcare materials at a lower cost to the patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention provide systems for efficient and effective collection and disposal of home generated used and/or unused medical waste and/or healthcare materials, where the systems include a collection and disposal container including an outer identification member, a middle shipping member, and an inner medical waste and/or used or unused healthcare materials collection receptacle. The containers are purchasable at a retail establishment, at a pharmacy provider or at a kiosk for a given cost to an end-user. At the time of purchase of a container by the end-user, a coupon may be generated by a coupon generating unit associated with a coupon issuing organization. The coupon includes a redemption code to be used by the end-user at a designated web-site. Once the end-user goes to the web-site and enters the redemption code at the web-site using a computer, smart phone or other internet interactive device, the web-site generates a printable shipping label, which is printed locally at the end-users internet interactive device. In an alternate embodiment, the end-user calls a customer service number specified on the coupon, where the customer service provider redeems the coupon based on the redemption code, prints a shipping label and mails the shipping label to the end-user. Once the receptacle is ready for shipping to a processing facility or location indicated on the shipping label, the end-user places the receptacle in the middle shipping member, attaches the shipping label to the middle shipping member, and deposits the labeled middle shipping member containing the receptacle with the appropriate courier organization as indicated on the label. In an alternate embodiment, the end-user goes to the website specified on the container and purchases a return shipping label directly without a coupon or calls a customer service number specified on the container and directly purchase a return shipping label. In yet another embodiment, the container may be included with a shipping label affixed to the middle member, where label is provided by a sponsoring organization.
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems for efficient and effective collection and disposal of home generated used and/or unused medical waste and/or healthcare materials, where the systems include a container kiosk including collection and disposal containers, a display, and an user interface. An end-user purchases a home healthcare collection and disposal container from the kiosk using the user interface, where the interface includes means for accepting payment via cash or card (debit, credit, gift card or the like). The kiosk then dispenses a healthcare collection and disposal container to the end-user. The kiosk may also generate a coupon having a unique redemption code. The kiosk may also activate the display to display a web-site and request the end-user to enter the redemption code or to insert the coupon into a slot so that the redemption code is electronically read. The kiosk may then generate a shipping label so that the end-user can ship the middle member including the receptacle to a processing site via the carrier indicated on the shipping label.
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for collecting, shipping, and processing of home generated used and/or unused medical waste and/or healthcare materials. The methods include providing a home healthcare collection and disposal container including an outer member, a middle shipping member and a receptacle disposed inside a shipping member. The methods also include purchasing a home healthcare collection and disposal container from a retail establishment or a kiosk. Upon purchasing the home healthcare collection and disposal container from the retail establishment or the kiosk, the methods may also include generating a coupon including a unique redemption code. The methods may also include entering the unique redemption code at a web-site indicated on the coupon using a home computer, other digital processing devices, other internet interactive devices, or the kiosk. Upon entering the redemption code, other digital processing devices, other internet interactive devices, or the kiosk generates a shipping label to be attached to the middle shipping member so that the middle shipping member with the receptacle disposed therein may be deposited with the indicated shipping organization or courier service for delivering the middle shipping member and the receptacle to a processing site or facility. The methods also include affixing the shipping label to the middle member with the receptacle disposed therein. The methods also include depositing the middle member with the receptacle disposed therein with the shipping organization or courier service indicated on the shipping label. The methods also include delivering the middle member with the receptacle disposed therein to a processing site or facility. The methods may also include disposing of the middle member with the receptacle disposed therein in a landfill, incinerating the middle member with the receptacle disposed therein or repurposing the middle member with the receptacle disposed therein.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following detailed description together with the appended illustrative drawings in which like elements are numbered the same:
The inventors have found that a system and method for implementing the system have been discovered for the efficient and effective collection and disposal home generated used and/or unused medical waste and/or healthcare materials. The systems and methods include shippable home generated used and/or unused medical waste and/or healthcare materials disposal containers. The systems and methods also include coupons including a unique redemption code for obtaining, at no end-user cost, a shipping label for shipping home healthcare waste to a disposal site or facility indicated on the label generated at the time of purchasing a container. The systems and methods also including obtaining the shipping label from a web-site designed to redeem the coupon using the unique redemption code on a home computer system, other digital processing unit or a dedicated kiosk unit. In an alternate embodiment, the end-user calls a customer service number specified on the coupon, where the customer service provider would redeem the coupon for them, print the return shipping label and mail the return label to the patient. In an alternate embodiment, the end-user goes to the website specified on the container and purchases a return shipping label directly without a coupon or calls a customer service number specified on the container and directly purchase a return shipping label. In yet another embodiment, the container may be include a return shipping label, where label is provided by a sponsoring organization. The systems and methods also include placing a full receptacle into the shipping container, sealing the container with the receptacle inside, attaching the shipping label to an exterior surface of the container and depositing the container with the delivery service or courier service indicated on the label. The systems and methods may also include processing the home healthcare waste into a burnable fuel as disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/610331, 12/649215, 12/649230 and 12/713733.
Embodiments of the present invention broadly relate to systems for efficient and effective collection and disposal of home generated medical waste and/or used or unused healthcare materials, where the systems include a collection and disposal container including an outer identification member, a middle shipping member and an inner used and/or unused home healthcare materials receptacle. The containers are purchasable at retail establishments for a given cost to a home healthcare end-user or shipped to the patient by a pharmacy provider such as Medico, Express Script, or Prescription Solutions or on-line pharmacy. At the time of purchase of a container by the end-user, a coupon is generated by a coupon generating unit associated with a coupon issuing organization. The coupon includes a redemption code for obtaining a shipping label to properly disposal of the home generated medical waste and/or used or unused healthcare materials, where the cost of shipping is not borne by the end-user, but by healthcare and/or recycling/repurposing companies. Once, the end-user goes to the specified web-site and enters the access number, the web-site then generates a printable shipping label. In an alternate embodiment, the end-user calls a customer service number specified on the coupon, where the customer service provider would redeem the coupon for them, print the return shipping label and mail the return label to the patient. In an alternate embodiment, the end-user goes to the website specified on the container and purchases a return shipping label directly without a coupon or calls a customer service number specified on the container and directly purchase a return shipping label. In yet another embodiment, the container may be include a return shipping label, where label is provided by a sponsoring organization. Once the receptacle is full and ready for shipping to the disposal location indicated on the shipping label, the end-user places the receptacle in the shipping member, attaches the shipping label to the shipping member and deposits the labeled shipping member containing the receptacle with a appropriate courier organization as indicated on the label.
Embodiments of the present invention broadly relate to systems for efficient and effective collection and disposal of home generated medical waste and/or used or unused healthcare materials, where the systems include a home healthcare kiosk including home healthcare collection and disposal containers, a display, and a user interface. An end-user purchases a home healthcare collection and disposal container from the kiosk using the user interface, where the interface includes means for accepting payment via cash or card. The kiosk then dispenses a healthcare collection and disposal container to the end-user. The kiosk also generates a coupon having a unique access code. The kiosk then activates the display to display a web-site and requests the end-user to enter the coupon code or to insert the coupon into a slot so that the code can be electronically read. The kiosk then generates a shipping label so that the end-user can ship the container to a disposal site with the carrier indicated on the label once the receptacle within the container is full. In an alternate embodiment, the kiosk directly generates and prints the shipping label at the time of purchase. The kiosk display may simultaneously display information about the company or companies responsible for providing the shipping label and/or information on how the disposal system works and to what end the used and/or unused home healthcare materials are put.
Embodiments of the present invention broadly relate to methods for collecting, shipping and disposal of home generated medical waste and/or used or unused healthcare materials. The methods include home healthcare collection and disposal containers including a waste receptacle disposed inside a shipping container. The methods also include purchasing a home healthcare collection and disposal container from a retail establishment, purchased and shipped to the patient by a pharmacy provider or purchased from a dedicated kiosk. Upon purchasing the home healthcare collection and disposal container from the retail establishment, the pharmacy provider or the kiosk, the methods also includes generating a coupon including a redemption code. The methods also include entering the redemption code at a web-sited indicated on the coupon on a home computer or other digital processing unit or automatically displayed on the kiosk. Upon entering the code, the computer, other digital processing or kiosk generates a shipping label to be attached to the container so that the container once full can be deposited with the indicated shipping organization or courier for forwarding the container to the indicated disposal site or facility. In an alternate embodiment, the end-user calls a customer service number specified on the coupon, where the customer service provider would redeem the coupon for them, print the return shipping label and mail the return label to the patient. In an alternate embodiment, the end-user goes to the website specified on the container and purchases a return shipping label directly without a coupon or calls a customer service number specified on the container and directly purchase a return shipping label. In yet another embodiment, the container may be include a return shipping label, where label is provided by a sponsoring organization.
Detailed Description of the DrawingsReferring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Looking at
Looking at
Looking at
Looking at
All references cited herein are incorporated by reference for all purposes permitting under applicable Patent Laws, Rules, and Regulations or controlling case law. Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to its preferred embodiments, from reading this description those of skill in the art may appreciate changes and modification that may be made which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention as described above and claimed hereafter.
Claims
1. A system for collecting and disposing of home generated used and/or unused medical and/or healthcare materials comprising:
- a container subsystem including: at least one collection and disposal container including: an outer identification member, a middle shipping member, and an inner used and/or unused medical and/or healthcare materials collection receptacle;
- a shipping label subsystem including: a label generating unit for generating a shipping label for a delivery service, after the shipping service redemption code is entered into the interface; and
- a delivery service subsystem adapted to deliver via a delivery courier or delivery service to a full or partially full receptacle contained within the middle shipping member to a processing site or facility, where the middle shipping member has the shipping label affixed thereto.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the container subsystem further includes:
- a container purchasing subsystem, and
- a coupon generating unit associated with a coupon issuing organization for generating
- a coupon generating unit for generating a coupon having a shipping service redemption code.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the shipping label subsystem further includes:
- an interface for receiving the shipping service redemption code.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the container purchasing subsystem is a retail establishment or a pharmacy provider and the coupon generating unit is associated with a cash register subsystem of the retail establishment or the pharmacy provider.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the shipping label subsystem comprises a web-site, the interface is a computer, and the label generating unit is a printer, where the end-user access the website, enters the redemption code, and prints a printable shipping label.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the shipping label subsystem comprises a customer service number specified on the coupon, where the customer service provider redeems the coupon, prints a shipping label, and mails the label to the end-user.
7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a processing site or facility, where the a full or partially full receptacle contained within the middle shipping member is received from the delivery courier or service.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing site or facility further includes:
- a landfill, where the full or partially full receptacle contained within the middle shipping member deposited.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing site or facility further includes:
- an incineration unit, where the full or partially full receptacle contained within the middle shipping member are incinerated and a portion of the generate heat is used to generate electrical and/or mechanical work.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing site or facility further includes:
- an repurposing unit, where the full or partially full receptacle contained within the middle shipping member are repurposed into repurposed material, and an incineration unit, where the repurposed material is incinerated and a portion of the generate heat is used to generate electrical and/or mechanical work.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing site or facility further includes:
- an repurposing unit, where the full or partially full receptacle contained within the middle shipping member are repurposed into repurposed material, and
- a cement plant, where the repurposed material is incinerated, a portion of the generate heat is used to generate cement, and the residue of the repurposed material becomes part of the cement clinker.
12. A system for efficient and effective collection and disposal of home generated medical waste and used healthcare materials comprising:
- a kiosk including: a digital processing unit, a display, a user interface, a coupon or shipping label dispensing unit or printer including a dispensing slot, a payment unit including a payment input slot or reader and a receipt dispensing slot, a container dispensing unit having a least one container comprising an outer identification member, a middle shipping member, and an inner used and/or unused medical and/or healthcare materials collection receptacle, a power source, and electronic communication conduits interconnecting the components and the power source; and
- a delivery service subsystem adapted to deliver via a delivery courier or delivery service to a full or partially full receptacle contained within the middle shipping member to a processing site or facility, where the middle shipping member has the shipping label affixed thereto,
- where an end-user purchases a container from the kiosk, the kiosk generates a coupon and the end-user uses the coupon to obtain the shipping label.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the or shipping label dispensing unit or printer and the receipt dispensing unit comprises a thermal printer, a laser printer, an ink jet printer, or combination thereof.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the payment input slot or reader is a cash slot, a card reader or both.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein the two dispensing slots are the same.
16. The system of claim 12, further includes; communication hardware and software for interaction with an intranet or the Internet.
17. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication is via wires (high or low speed) or wireless.
18. A method comprising the steps of:
- providing a container including an outer identification member, a middle shipping member, and an inner used and/or unused medical and/or healthcare materials collection receptacle,
- purchasing a container,
- filing the receptacle with used and/or unused medical and/or healthcare materials,
- obtaining a shipping label,
- affixing the shipping label to the middle member,
- inserting the receptacle into the middle member, if it was removed,
- depositing the middle member containing the receptacle with the delivery courier or service indicate on the shipping label, and
- delivering the middle member containing the receptacle to a processing facility.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
- after purchasing the container, generating a coupon including a shipping label redemption code, and
- prior to the obtaining step, redeeming the coupon for a shipping label using the redemption code.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
- landfilling the delivered middle member containing the receptacle,
- incinerating the delivered middle member containing the receptacle and converting a portion of generated heat into electrical or mechanical work,
- repurposing delivered middle member containing the receptacle into a repurposed material, or
- repurposing delivered middle member containing the receptacle into a repurposed material and incinerating the repurposed material in cement plant to supply heat for cement production and where the residue of the incineration of the repurposed material becomes part of the cement clinker.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 17, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 7, 2013
Applicant: SHARPS COMPLIANCE, INC. (Houston, TX)
Inventors: David P. Tusa (Houston, TX), Claude Dance (Dripping Spring, TX)
Application Number: 13/588,768
International Classification: B65B 3/04 (20060101); B65D 85/00 (20060101);