RE: Radioactive Diapers

["Ira D. Miller" <milleri@connecti.com>]

We have place detectors at all exits to the hospital where waste may pass through.  This means that we are called in about 3 times a week.  Usually the trash is traced to an ICU bed.  We do not attempt to identify the patient once the ward is identified.  We find this preferable to receiving the waste back from an incinerator, especially since we transport to an out of state incinerator.  Also our on site incinerator is not allowed to burn radioactive waste.

I realize we are more sensitive than most as we are a military hospital--but our licensing authority is appreciative and so is the hospital executive committee.

Ira D. Miller, Maj, USAF, BSC
59 MDW

The opinions expressed are those of the author and not of the USAF or DOD

----------
From: 	Jeff Mason[SMTP:JMASON@WPO.IUPUI.EDU]
Sent: 	Wednesday, August 07, 1996 10:07 AM
To: 	Multiple recipients of list
Subject: 	Radioactive Diapers

This question may have been placed here before but we are interested in
how other institutions deal with radioactive diapers coming from
diagnostic nuclear medicine patients.    We have a city incinerator
which has sodium iodide monitors at the gate.  If the monitor detects
radioactivity in the waste, the dumpster is placed in a holding area
until action is taken.  This may mean holding the dumpster for decay
(for Tc-99m) or contacting the State Department of Health and having the
radioactive items removed.  We have heard that some places have
detectors placed on site so no radioactive items leave the institution. 
Does anyone have experience/advice on how to avoid having these items
leave their institution?  Thank you in advance!

Jeff Mason, 
Indiana Univ. Medical Center
JMASON@WPO.IUPUI.EDU