| Abstract |
We live in a world where patients go without critical medical supplies, while elsewhere, unopened, usable items are discarded simply due to overstock or exceeding expiration dates. Too much and too little exist in tandem, creating a deeply inefficient and morally challenging imbalance. This isn’t just wasteful; it is a missed opportunity to save lives.
This project explores sustainability in healthcare environments, focusing on the redundancy of expiration dates on sterile medical supplies. It investigates whether some expiration dates can be safely extended and how better waste management could be implemented. I hypothesise that assessing the usability of medical supplies post-expiry, combined with improved waste management strategies facilitated through a mobile application like HealthLoop, can reduce environmental and economic impacts in healthcare settings while maintaining patient safety.
This project consists of four components: Review, Survey, Testing, and Development. A literature review established current protocols for expiration and disposal. Surveys and interviews with healthcare professionals gathered data on waste management practices and attitudes towards expiration dating. Laboratory experiments tested expired and in-date medical supplies for sterility, packaging integrity, and usability. These results showed that expired supplies remained sterile and functional beyond their printed expiry dates. These findings indicated potential for safe expiration extension and inspired the development of HealthLoop. HealthLoop enables healthcare facilities to track, manage, and redistribute medical supplies, promoting circular living and sustainability.
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