Excela Health Continues Promoting Safe Disposal of Unused Medication

GREENSBURG, Pa., JULY 12, 2018 …Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital is the latest community location for the safe, secure disposal of unused medications. A MedSafe receptacle is now available in the main lobby on the hospital’s first floor. A similar container was placed at Excela Latrobe Hospital in April. The health system hopes to roll out the program to Excela Frick Hospital in the upcoming months.

The secure dropbox is under constant surveillance and emptied periodically by
authorized health system personnel for processing of its contents. MedSafe collection
boxes provide an opportunity for individuals to prevent drug addiction and overdose
deaths. Similar containers exist at area police stations.

“Consumers and caregivers should remove expired, unwanted or unused
medicines from their home as quickly as possible to help reduce the chance that others
accidentally take or intentionally misuse the unneeded medicine,” said Dean Matanin,
Excela Health Director of Pharmacy. “Excela Health is helping to address a crucial
public safety and public health issue.”

Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or
illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply.
“Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment,”
added Matanin.

Acceptable items for disposal include controlled, noncontrolled and over-thecounter pills, tablets, capsules, ointments, creams, lotions, powders and liquid
medicines of no more than 4 ounces.