Evaluation of environmentally sustainable actions in the medication process

Abstract

Objective: to analyze sustainable actions from an environmental point of view in the medication process, from the reception of the prescription of the pharmacy to waste discard by nursing. Method: study before and after performed through Lean Six Sigma methodology. The sample consisted of the amount and type of waste resulting from the pharmacy and nursing services of a medical-surgical clinical unit. Results: after the intervention was obtained at the pharmacy a reduction of 74.8% of chemical, infectious and sharps waste, an increase of 33.3% of common recyclable and 20% of common non-recyclable. In nursing, there was a reduction of 22.5% of chemical, infectious and sharps waste, an increase of 22.9% of common recyclable and an increase of 20% of common non-recyclable. Conclusion: the practice of sustainable actions in the hospital is possible, contributing to the optimization of resources and waste production with benefits to the institution, environment, and health.