An individual’s health file contains more information about that person than anyone else should be able to see. If the wrong person were to get their hands on such private information, they would easily be able to take advantage.
To help prevent this possibility from becoming a reality, there are laws and regulations in place such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that require the proper handling and destruction of items containing any personal health information (PHI).
Why Shred Pill Bottles
Although the label on a prescription bottle does not list your entire medical history, there is just enough data for someone to go off of in order to further obtain as much information as they please. For this reason, there are shredding services that can accommodate any type of materials with PHI—even pill bottles.
You may wonder why it’s not common practice to simply strip the labels from the prescription bottles. Because the labels are normally underneath clear tape, this can be difficult and take up much more time than necessary.
Instead, there are a few other steps you can take to ease the disposal process and eliminate having to strip the labels off one by one.
How to Prepare for Shredding Pill Bottles
Before sending your pill bottles to be shredded, there are a few things you should be sure to do first. Steps include:
Separate Your Materials
Although not required, it is a good idea to separate bottles from your paper medical records that need to be shredded.
If your materials are not separated before being sent in, the paper shreds will be sent to the landfill rather than being recycled. This can also cost more.
Whether you have a separate bin for your bottles or just separate them right before sending them in, you will be doing your part to help the environment. In addition, you’ll save a little bit of money by recycling.
Empty Contents
Any medication left in the bottles must be removed before being sent over to the shredder. In many cases, nearby pharmacies like CVS allow individuals to drop off their unwanted or unused medications.
If any medication is left in your prescription bottles, it will be shredded along with the rest of the materials. The pills will turn to dust, which may be dangerous for any of the employees that become exposed to it.
With so many pharmacies dispensing prescriptions across the nation, there is a constant need for shredding services for pill bottles.
Get Free Quotes On Medical Waste Destruction Services Today
If you have prescription bottles or any other medical waste that needs to be properly destroyed and disposed of, Shred Nations can get you started. Ranging from large hospitals to individuals, we can help you to find the best destruction contractors in your area.
For personalized quotes, fill out the form to the right or give us a call at (800) 747-3365. Within minutes of speaking with one of our agents, you will receive quotes from contractors. They will provide secure and reliable destruction services for your project.
