The literature for years has always recommended taking the patch off, folding it over on itself so that the adhesive sides stick to itself, then flushing down the toilet.
However, if you've got a septic system, I wouldn't recommend it as they don't break down. Personally I've always folded them over and tossed them in the trash, but I don't have small kids or have to worry about anyone nosing through my trash either. It's essentially dependent on your own situation - if you're in an environment where used patches might be abused (even small residual amounts can make non-opiate users pretty sick) then flush 'em.
JCAHO accredits/certifies hospitals, inspects them. They have guidelines for quality and other factors of hospital care. They do offer accreditation for Skilled Nursing Facilities. JCAHO is pretty strict and intense, the inspections really get administrators, doctors, and nurses on their toes. You'll know when JCAHO is coming by the excitement in the air. It's usually an annual event.
JCAHO doesn't fall under any part of the government. It's not federally run or backed.
jcaho requires that staff members have the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the age-specific need
The accreditation of JCAHO is important because it helps strengthen and organize patient safety efforts and to boost community confidence in the safety of care.
The JCAHO standards are a complex, detailed set or protocols. Rather than me cut and paste here, please check the following sites:
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Joint Commission on Accredidation of Healthcare Organizations
JCAHO
No
JCAHO stands for Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. It is an independent body that inspects and certifies the facilities and protocols of hospitals, treatment centers, rehabs and similar organizations. Its purpose is to identify facilities that meet certain minimum standards. Although JCAHO certification is not mandatory, many secondary providers such as insurance companies will not deal as favorably with non-accredited institutions.
JCAHO
It is often labeled as not-for-profit. This is a somewhat loose definition of not-for-profit because JCAHO profits both on its healthcare-related activities and on investments. The profit on healthcare activities is rather small compared to the total value of JCAHO. The return on JCAHO's investments was 5 times as high as its healthcare profits in 2007 ($5 million versus $1 million), while in 2008 JCAHO actually lost $27 million in the market. Total value of JCAHO is about $150 million, over half of which is invested. About half its investments are in the stock market.My source:http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/05E0308B-E5FF-4CF7-AD63-39C038E85ACA/0/08_financial.pdfMy own opinion: An organization that plays the market this much is not really not-for-profit, nor is it really a healthcare organization. It is an investment firm that regulates healthcare.