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Traditional methods of removing fluid medical waste from the operating room are being replaced in many places by fluid management systems that collect and discharge contents directly into the sanitary sewer.
Fluid management systems can replace single-use disposable plastic suction canisters, chemical solidifiers (itself an exposure risk), and significantly reduce waste disposal costs. Additional available safety features include smoke evacuation, precise vacuum control, fluid measurement, air filtration, and enclosed processing which further reduces occupational exposure risk.
Fluid… Read More
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Affiliate partners are manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, or other supply chain partners. As a key player in the health care supply chain, your partnership and collaboration are paramount to our work.
The premium level was created because we heard from our supplier partners and others that they were interested in new, different ways to engage and collaborate with Practice Greenhealth and our network hospitals and health systems. So, we developed exclusive events and opportunities to participate in throughout the year.
“We're excited to not only get access to the resources and… Read More
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Rigid sterilization containers can be a sustainable, safe alternative to polypropylene “blue wrap” for sterile operating room equipment.
Incorporating the cost of rigid sterilization containers into annual capital budgeting processes such that requests for new instrument sets include a rigid sterilization container can help offset upfront cost, especially when used on high-volume, commonly used instrument sets or items. The effort has long-term cost-saving benefits by reducing the amount of blue wrap and other single-use sterilization materials, like sterile indicator tape, which may require… Read More
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Sustainability made easy.
The HAN Impact Purchasing Commitment (HAN IPC) was developed by a design team of HAN members, in addition to Healthcare Anchor Network and Practice Greenhealth staff.
With more than 1,100 network partners, nationwide, many of which are already part of the Healthcare Anchor Network, Practice Greenhealth offers Commitment participants access to a suite of tools and resources to jumpstart any of the sustainability goals.
Watch this overview for more background and details about the sustainability goals.
Part of Impact purchasing commitment: Getting started… Read More
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Concerns over infection prevention, continued increase in the use of single-use, disposable plastics, and changes in international recycling markets and a lack of U.S.-based material recovery facilities have left operating rooms awash in single-use medical plastics. Additionally, a 0.5 percent contamination rate requirement on marketable medical plastics has challenged the compliance of many hospital recycling programs.
One ubiquitous medical plastic, ”blue wrap,” is estimated to make up almost 20 percent of all operating room waste. While these plastics do an excellent job of keeping… Read More
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Innovative transportation strategies can improve health and well-being by inviting employees to step out of their cars and into more active and healthy modes of travel. Hospitals and health systems that have incentivized alternative commuting practices see more engaged, healthy and active employees, and significantly reduced single-occupancy vehicle rates, miles, and greenhouse gas emissions.
These programs can also be attractive to the next generation of talented and energetic health care recruits by demonstrating dedication to the health and well-being of employees, the community, and the… Read More
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Many hospitals and health systems face transportation challenges, including:
Existing parking structures for employees and visitors are at maximum capacity and costly expansions aren’t feasible.
Idling ambulances and delivery trucks are wasting fuel, increasing hospital fuel costs and the overhead costs for supplies.
Excess emissions from idling vehicles and employee single-vehicle commuters flow into the surrounding environment, where employees, visitors, neighbors, and patients breathe them in – a huge health concern, as vehicle emissions contain particulates linked to lung damage,… Read More
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Practice Greenhealth's Kaeleigh Sheehan facilitating a workshop at CleanMed.
Though a tiny percentage of a hospital's total physical footprint, operating rooms have a big impact on hospital budgets.
The health care sector produces 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S and hospitals represent 36% alone. And operating rooms are their hot spots for emissions, waste, and energy use. A typical OR can make up half of a hospital’s aggregate costs, produce 33% of a facility’s waste, consume more energy per square foot than any other area of the hospital, and anesthetic gases alone… Read More
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Practice Greenhealth is the health care sector’s go-to source for information, tools, data, resources, and expert technical support on sustainability initiatives that help hospitals and health systems meet their health, financial, and community goals.