Nursing Home Sharps Collection Programs
August 8, 2012
DAL#: NH 12-05
Subject: Nursing Home Sharps Collection Programs
Dear Administrator:
This letter is to remind you of your nursing home's obligation under New York State Public Health Law 1389-dd (4) to accept home generated sharps (needles, syringes and lancets) and to inform you of a survey to collect information on your program that will be posted on the New York State Department of Health secure website, Health Commerce System (HCS).
To update the directory of collection sites listed on the New York State Department of Health's website, nursing homes are being asked to complete an online HCS survey. This survey will be posted on the Nursing Home Surveillance and Reporting System (NUHSUR) ofthe HCS today Wednesday, August 8, 2012 and must be completed by Friday, September 24, 2012. The survey will collect information regarding program location(s), hours of operation, the method of sharps collection and how information about the program is disseminated to the public.
At the conclusion of the collection period, the Department will update the information available on its public website. To ensure the most current information is available to the public in the future, the Department intends to develop an automated system that will allow all collection sites to update their information on an ongoing basis. You will be informed when that occurs and periodic reminders to review your posted information will be issued.
The following are resources regarding the safe disposal of used sharps:
- NYS Safe Sharps Collection Program
- A cooperative voluntary program operated by several registered community based organizations and administered by the NYSDOH to provide sharps/syringes collection services. A listing of participating organizations can be found at the following link.
http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/harm_reduction/needles_syringes/sharps/directory_sharpscollection.htm
- A cooperative voluntary program operated by several registered community based organizations and administered by the NYSDOH to provide sharps/syringes collection services. A listing of participating organizations can be found at the following link.
- NYS-Approved Syringe Exchange Programs (SEP)
- Organizations that provide syringe collection services to the community. A listing of SEPs is included at the following link.
http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/harm_reduction/needles_syringes/docs/sep_hours_sites.pdf
- Organizations that provide syringe collection services to the community. A listing of SEPs is included at the following link.
- New York State Sharps Disposal
- A New York State Department of Health flyer containing information on the safe disposal of used sharps. The flyer is available at the following link.
http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/harm_reduction/needles_syringes/sharps/docs/safe_sharps_disposal_flyer.pdf
- A New York State Department of Health flyer containing information on the safe disposal of used sharps. The flyer is available at the following link.
Thank you very much for your cooperation. Should you have questions about either the survey or requirements for your collection program, please contact the Bureau of Quality Assurance for Nursing Homes at 518-402-1282.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline O. Pappalardi, Director
Nursing Home and ICF Surveillance
