The San Lazaro Hospital experience in compliance to the Department of Health Administrative Order No.

2008-0021
Karen Abejar-Arago,D.M.D
Program Manager, Health Care Waste Management SLH Mercury Management Team

 Mandated

by the Department of Health as Referral Center for Infectious and Communicable Diseases with 500 beds capacity
is involved in the delivery of health care services on patients who are suffering from Infectious and Communicable diseases.

It

The Gradual Phase-out of Mercury in all Philippine Health Care Facilities & Institutions
SLH

created Mercury Management Team (MMT) under Hospital Order No.312 s. 2008 dated November 26, 2008 composed of :
1. 2.

3.
4. 5. 6.

Dr. Karen Abejar Arago, Team Leader Maria Consuelo P. Esplana, Asst. Team leader Arvin J. Espaola, Secretary Evelinda J. Bulotano, Member Remigio Balane, Member Ruben Rivera, Member

MANAGEMENT TEAM (Medical, Nursing and Administrative Services)

MERCURY

 San

Lazaro Hospital is included among the 16 hospitals to receive the 1st Do No Harm Award for Mercury Free Health Care from the Health Care Without Harm

 Conduct an audit of existing mercury thermometers,

sphygmomanometers and fluorescent lamps in the hospital Identify ALTERNATIVES to replace mercurial devices for use in the hospital Identify SAFE STORAGE AREA for phased-out mercurial thermometers , sphygmomanometers and fluorescent lamps Develop and manage Mercury Minimization Program Implement a purchasing policy Conduct a facility wide information campaign & employee education

 Procured

NON-MERCURIAL DEVICES
THERMOMETERS

( Forehead Thermometer)

(Digital Thermometer)

(Wall Type Sphygmomanometer)

(Stand Type Sphygmomanometer)

Glass Ionomers and Light Cure Composites

SPHYGMOMANOMETER

Cut the rubber bulb and knot the tubings

Seal with duct tape areas for possible leak

Sealed the sphygmomanometer with duct tape for possible leakage

THERMOMETERS

Intact thermometers placed inside their containers and wrapped with duct tape.

Thermometers placed inside the box and sealed with duct tape

Primary Container to prevent spillage

Labeling on Primary Container

Secondary Container to prevent spillage

Sealing on Secondary Container to prevent spillage

Labeling on Secondary Container

Labeled Secondary Container

(temporarily stored at the Bio-Medical Room of San Lazaro Hospital)

 Identified

TEMPORARY STORAGE for phasedout mercury devices.

Located at the site far from the patients wards and offices

 Identified

TEMPORARY STORAGE for phasedout mercury devices.

 FOR

ALL MERCURIAL DEVICES

(in compliance to the Department of Healths Guidelines on Interim Storage of Mercury Devices