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May 19, 2010 – PharmEcology® Presents Disposal Guidelines for the H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccines (Updated)
Recently, several of our clients have asked us to advise them on how to properly dispose of their H1N1 vaccines and their seasonal flu vaccines. See the flu vaccine schedule.
April 6, 2010 – The American Hospital Association Awards Its Exclusive Endorsement to Waste Management's Integrated Environmental Services for Healthcare
The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced it has awarded an endorsement to WM Healthcare Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc., for integrated environmental services for health care.
December 6, 2009 – PharmEcology® Presents Consolidated DOT Shipping Descriptions
PharmEcology Services, WM Healthcare Solutions, Inc is pleased to announce that our PharmE® Waste Wizard and our PharmE® Inventory Analysis now present consolidated DOT shipping descriptions to make it simpler for our customers to manage their pharmaceutical waste.
July 1, 2009 – PharmEcology's Industry Leading Database Now Includes Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
PharmEcology is pleased to announce that its industry leading database now includes references to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for most drugs categorized as federally hazardous under RCRA or PharmE Hazardous® under PharmEcology's initiative to encourage best management practices for pharmaceutical waste.
May 11, 2009 – NIOSH Proposes Changes to the List of Hazardous Drugs
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requesting comment on proposed additions and deletions to the list of hazardous drugs (Appendix A).
April 16, 2009 – Waste Management Subsidiary Acquires PharmEcology Associates
WM Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (WMHS), a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc., announced today that it has purchased substantially all of the assets of PharmEcology Associates, LLC.
April 16, 2009 – Questions and Answers for PharmEcology Customers
What does this means to PharmEcology customers?
March 11, 2009 – PharmEcology Enhancements Support Emerging Best Management Practices
PharmEcology Associates, LLC announces a wide-ranging initiative to help organizations more effectively and efficiently manage their pharmaceutical waste. These enhancements come as the general public is becoming increasingly sensitive to the issue of drugs in our water supply and as many organizations accelerate efforts to implement pharmaceutical waste management solutions.
January 26, 2009 – EPA Extends Comment Deadline for the Universal Waste Rule
PharmEcology learned today that its request for an extension of the deadline, along with other organizations, has been granted. The new deadline is March 4, 2009.
January 23, 2009 – The Drug Free Water Act of 2009
The Drug Free Water Act of 2009 was introduced on January 7, 2009 by Representative Candice Miller of Michigan.
January 23, 2009 – DEA Solicits Comments on Consumer Take Back Program
DEA published the long-awaited request for comment on the Disposal of Controlled Substances by Persons Not Registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration in the Federal Register on Wednesday, January 21, 2009.
January 21, 2009 – EPA Takes Mandatory Increase in RCRA Fines
As of January 12, 2009, EPA may now assess fines up to $37,500 per violation per day for certain RCRA violations.
January 5, 2009 – Your Chance to Shape Future Pharmaceutical Waste Regulations
The EPA is considering adding hazardous pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule and asked for hospitals to provide information about how this would affect them.
November 20, 2008 – EPA Seeks Public Comment on Proposal to Add Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste to Universal Waste Rule
To help provide a streamlined system for disposing of hazardous pharmaceutical waste that is protective of public health and the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to add hazardous pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule.
October 29, 2008 – Northern Michigan Regional Hospital first in the Country to earn PharmE® Certification
Charlotte Smith, president of PharmEcology Associates, LLC, announced today that Northern Michigan Regional Hospital of Petoskey, MI is the first hospital to achieve “PharmE® Certification.”
September 22, 2008 – Congress Urged to Monitor Drugs in the Water Supply
Last Thursday, the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment heard pollution experts call for a new national approach to monitor the country's waters for the presence of hundreds of recently detected contaminants ranging from drugs to fire retardents. The congressional hearing immediately follows the release of Associated Press investigative reports indicating that health facilities flush 250 million pounds of drugs down the drain and that more than 46 million Americans have detectable levels of pharmaceuticals in their drinking water.
Sept 18, 2008 – AP Round 2: Even More Drugs in Our Water!
With a series of press releases last week, the Associated Press provided additional details about the emerging problem of trace pharmaceuticals in our nation's water supply. These reports are follow-up to the original AP series last March which triggered both federal and local legislative hearings into a problem which the public is becoming more aware of by the day.
August 6, 2008 – EPA Intensifies Focus on Impact of Pharmaceuticals in Water
The EPA issued a news release today declaring their continuing interest in understanding the potential impacts of pharmaceuticals in water. The four-pronged approach announced today includes: strengthening scientific knowledge; improving public understanding; building partnerships for stewardship; and taking regulatory action when appropriate.
May 19, 2008 – EPA Excludes P- and U-Listed Residues in Syringes
On May 19th, 2008, EPA posted an interpretation letter which extends the previous 1994 exclusion of residual epinephrine in a used, discarded syringe to other P- and U-listed drugs, unless they exhibit another characteristic of hazardous waste, such as ignitability.
April 15, 2008 – Senate Holds Historic Hearings on Drugs in Our Water Supply
In response to last month's widely publicized reports of drugs in our water supply, the U.S. Senate's subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security, and Water Quality held a hearing on "Pharmaceuticals in the Nation's Water: Assessing Potential Risks and Actions To Address the Issue."
March 15, 2008 – ASHP: EPA Inspections of Drug Disposal Practices Can Be a Learning Moment
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists continues it program to let pharmacists know that the Environmental Protection Agency is increasing its efforts to verify that hospitals are properly disposing of their pharmaceutical waste.
March 13, 2008 – AP Probe Finds Drugs In Our Water Supply
"Drugs In Our Water Supply" was the topic of discussion in three recent investigative articles published by the Associated Press.
October 23rd, 2007 – PharmEcology® Revises Status of EPI and Nitro in the PharmE® Waste Wizard
In response to USEPA's memo declaring that epinephrine salts are not P042 and therefore are not necessarily hazardous waste, PharmEcology has reviewed all epinephrine producte in its database and has determined that all formulated items are either hydrochloride, bitartrate, or borate salts of epinephrine.
October 16th, 2007 – EPA Declares Epinephrine Salts not P042!
EPA Region 1 issued a release today clarifying the scope of the hazardous waste listing for Epinephrine, Hazardous Waste Code P042. As described in the EPA release, EPA has determined that the scope of the P042 listing does not include epinephrine salts.
August 22, 2006 – PharmEcology® Receives Patent On Pharmaceutical Waste Identification System
At a time when healthcare facilities face a growing threat of liability for inappropriate disposal of pharmaceutical waste, PharmEcology® Associates, LLC, announced today that the U.S. Patent Office has issued their patent for a Pharmaceutical Hazardous Waste Identification and Management System, Patent # 7,096,161.
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