(Excerpted from Medical Economics, 9/1/06)
Computers like all electronic appliances seem to have a fairly short lifespan. Some break down or wear out, but often new models offer the bigger and better features needed by a medical practitioner. Overall, 70 million became obsolete in 2003 alone.
So where do you "trash" the old computers?
Unfortunately computers have high levels of hazardous material, which prevent putting them on the curb for garbage pickup. But that is the least of the hazard when it comes to the medical industry. For physicians, old computers also pose a potential HIPAA hazard. Before getting rid of the computer, you have to remove any and all patient information stored on the hard drive.
If you lease your computers, the leasing company will take the computers back and assumes responsibility for complying with state and local environmental regulations. But you still have that patient data to remove, which is easier said than done. Simple deletion of the files isn't good enough because an enterprising identity thief can easily recover them from the drive. The best bet is a "data wiping" program. (Leasing companies may offer to run such a program on your computers, but HIPAA vigilance indicates you should do it yourself – and document it.) A simple Google search will provide a list of "data wiping" programs on the market.
If you purchased your equipment, some manufacturers (such as Dell) offer a disposal service for a flat fee per component. Dell will also dispose of all computers, regardless of brand, that they are replacing for you. If the old computer is resold, Dell will wipe the hard drive and you receive a percentage of the sale proceeds.
Don't assume a charity will want your old computers. Unless the computer has enough memory, speed and hard drive space, most charities aren't interested. Again, before donating any computer, always remember to wipe the data on the hard drive – and remove all application programs with the uninstall feature to avoid any problems with software piracy laws.
If your machine is over 5 years old, your best move may be to find a reputable recycler.
Such companies will de-manufacture the equipment for salvage and harvesting of raw materials. (Some may refurbish newer machines for resale.)
Recyclers may charge for their services. "Free" recyclers may not be a bargain if they are looking for hard drives to resell and dumping everything else illegally. State and local electronic waste collection, usually aimed at individuals rather than businesses, are not a bargain either. They will not provide the doctor paperwork confirming that the data has been destroyed. Legitimate recyclers will provide certification that the hard drives were either wiped and reused or melted down.
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