FREE CONTAINERS FOR NEEDLES, LANCETS NOW AVAILABLE
AT FIVE WELLMONT COMMUNITY HOSPITALS
People with diabetes who regularly use needles or lancets for their medical care need to dispose of them safely.
For more than two years, the Diabetes Treatment Centers at Wellmont Health System have assisted the public by providing free, safe disposal containers at Wellmont hospitals in Bristol, Kingsport and Greeneville. Now, the program is expanding to the health system's hospitals in Hawkins and Hancock counties and Southwest Virginia – Hawkins County Memorial Hospital in Rogersville; Hancock County Hospital in Sneedville; Lee Regional Medical Center in Pennington Gap, Va.; Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap, Va.; and Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Norton, Va.
"These puncture-resistant containers will provide a valuable service to people in Southwest Virginia, Rogersville and Sneedville who don't have an opportunity to safely dispose of needles or lancets," said Jim Perkins, director of Wellmont's Diabetes Treatment Centers. "It will be safe for the people who use these items, their families and the community."
Residents who use needles to treat other medical conditions may also be able to use the nine-inch-tall containers.
People can go to the emergency department admissions desks at the hospitals in Virginia to pick up a container. Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Containers can be picked up during the same days and hours at the front desks of Hawkins County Memorial Hospital and Hancock County Hospital.
When a container is full, it can be returned to the hospital and exchanged for a new one.
Containers are also available at the Diabetes Treatment Centers at Holston Valley Medical Center and Bristol Regional Medical Center and at the front desk of Takoma Regional Hospital in Greeneville.
