8 Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Medical Waste Disposal Contract

Any contract you sign is an important document, and signing a medical waste disposal contract isn’t something to take lightly. If your medical facility is in need of a disposal company, and it’s your job to hire them, it’s imperative that you do your homework. There are plenty of companies out there that would love to take your business, but not many of them are as high quality as they may seem. Before you sign on the dotted line, here are 8 questions you should ask any potential disposal company to make sure you’ve found the right partner:

Question #1: Are you a full-service waste management company?

Your facility has, and probably will, change over the years, so you want to make sure your medical waste disposal company can make changes with you. If you’re going to be working with a company long term, you want that company to be able to handle your waste pick up needs, regardless of what type or how much. Therefore, you want to ensure that the company you choose can handle more than what you currently need, or is considered a full service waste management company, and that the contract you’re signing allows for increasing or decreasing the services provided as necessary.

Question #2: How long am I locked into a medical waste contract?

This may seem like common sense to some, but the length of your contract must be clearly stated so that you know exactly how long you’ll be required to stay in it once you sign. Any company that unconditionally requires a contract of longer than a year is probably a risky hire. Why are they so insistent that you agree to such a long-term deal? If you’re satisfied with the level of service they provide at the medical waste disposal cost you’re paying, you would naturally be happy to renew your contract as necessary. It’s likely that they may try to charge unnecessary fees or penalties without your awareness, or they’re not a high quality provider, so they’re very controlling of the customers they do have. Either way, you don’t want to be in business with them.

Question #3: Can I get out of this contract without penalty?

If you do decide to jump into a contract for your medical waste disposal needs, make sure you know if it’s possible to then break that contract if necessary. It’s likely there will be penalties associated with early termination of your terms, so be explicitly aware of those as well, even if that means reading all of the fine print, or having a lawyer read over the contract for you. If the disposal company suddenly raises prices on you or starts to provide inadequate service, you want to know what recourse you have in terms of contract breakage.

Question #4: If you or your employees provide poor service, how will you handle it?

Most companies like to pride themselves on customer service, but the waste industry has gotten a bad rap at times. Sadly, it’s an industry that lends itself to those who don’t take pride in their job, so it can be near impossible to hire and keep good employees, which makes it difficult for you, a customer, to hire the right company for your needs. Remember, while having everything in writing is key, actions speak louder than words. A company worth its salt will go above and beyond when it comes to service, and that includes dealing with issues.

Question #5: Is the price quoted all-inclusive or will there be additional charges on my bill?

A very common practice in the medical waste industry is to quote low monthly rates on the front page of the contract, followed by many pages of fine print that actually outlines additional fees. These may include container surcharges, stop fees, fuel charges or excess waste fees, and can often triple your original quote. You need to ask about scheduling pick-ups, obtaining and emptying containers, and how much total waste your contract covers. Make sure you fully understand what you will be charged up front.

Question #6: How easy is it to contact your customer service department?

If you have a problem in a healthcare facility with medical waste, it’s very likely you will need an answer sooner rather than later. The waste disposal company you choose should be readily available if you ever need to contact them. Depending on the size of the company (a local business only in your city, or a national medical waste disposal chain), who you contact may change at different times, but whoever you deal with (the CEO, the management, or the salespeople/CSRs on the front lines), should be ready and willing to be contacted and to help quickly and easily.

Question #7: Will your employees be trained and uniformed?

The employees handling your waste should receive comprehensive training in bio-hazardous medical waste management and ongoing continuing education in OSHA blood-borne pathogens, hazard communications and HIPAA laws and regulations. Additionally, each employee should be required to pass a criminal background check and drug test, and every employee that handles your medical waste should be properly uniformed, including safety hand, feet, and head coverings, if necessary. If a company cannot explain the type of training every employee receives, you should look elsewhere.

Question #8: Can you help us put together a comprehensive medical waste disposal program customized to our business?

Unfortunately, some medical waste disposal providers operate similarly to waste management companies. They simply drop off a container and pick it up in a week or a month, and that’s it. But a solid waste disposal provider will offer every customer a medical waste assessment or consultation, making sure all regulatory issues are addressed, a disposal plan is put in place, and all of your needs are met and are in writing in the contract. Trust your business with a company that has the expertise to help you navigate the regulatory landscape of biohazardous, pharmaceutical, pathological and chemotherapy wastes.

Get the Right Answers to Your Questions

Finding the best medical waste disposal company for your needs can be an overwhelming task, but if you’re in the greater Birmingham or Huntsville, AL areas, SecureMed is the partner for you. We can answer all of your questions about medical waste disposal, and help you assess what your healthcare or medical facility may need, without breaking your bank. Contact us today!