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The manufacture, use, and disposal of computers, imaging equipment (printers, copiers, fax, multi-functional devices [MFDs], scanners, digital duplicators), mobile phones, servers, televisions and their electronic accessories have a global adverse impact on human and environmental health. Electronics contain toxic heavy metals, halogenated flame retardants, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and many other chemicals of concern. Rapid changes in technology mean many of these products have short lives and are easier to dispose than to repair and upgrade.
Electronics goal
Specify, purchase and report… Read More
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Data collection is essential to effective sustainability programs, but it’s only useful if the data is used and acted upon. By aggregating data from hospitals across our network, Practice Greenhealth provides valuable insights into the state of sustainability work across the sector.
We know your data is precious, and we are committed to protecting it. Please see our data policy to learn more
“Thanks to the data analyzed through the awards platform at Practice Greenhealth, we're in a healthier position to categorically mitigate the various wastes associated with health care operations while… Read More
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Rather than disposing of supplies, equipment, and devices that are in good working order when a facility is finished with them, many of our member hospitals report they’ve identified ways to reuse, donate, remanufacture, or take advantage of take-backs for these items.
While it takes time to identify and arrange these reuse strategies, the costs saved by reducing haul-away disposal costs are substantial.
Practice Greenhealth offers tools, resources, and case studies to help our members to assess the best ways to reuse or donate equipment and other items rather than create waste.
Reuse,… Read More
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The Healthy Interiors Cohort provides a venue for health systems to share best practices, lessons learned, and troubleshoot any challenges with one another, in order to be able to most effectively achieve Practice Greenhealth's goals for interior building products. Facilities are invited to bring to the cohort their design and construction, EVS, and other staff members who are involved in the selection, installation, or maintenance of building products. Some sessions will also support the achievement of the Healthy Interiors goal included in the Impact Purchasing Commitment.
Target audience… Read More
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Build a strong base for your food efforts through progressive policies and plans, engaged and empowered teams, transformative community collaboration, and supportive public policy and programs.
Health care institutions have an opportunity to influence broad food system impacts for their patients, staff, and communities – but to realize this potential it is important to first set the foundation.
Establishing progressive goals – based on a thorough assessment of current activities and designed with leadership, staff, and community input – will set your facility on the road to success. By… Read More
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Many products and materials that come into hospitals may contain or release carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or other hazardous materials, exposing patients, staff, and the community to harm. Purchased goods and services also account for a majority of the energy and water use by the sector. Participants meet to share best practices in engaging group purchasing organizations (GPO) and suppliers, integrating environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) in value analysis, and identifying cost saving opportunities. Also, time is reserved during each session for participants to receive quick… Read More
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Nonprofit hospitals are required to provide community benefit programs to maintain their tax-exempt status. Recent changes to community benefit regulations require hospitals to conduct community health needs assessments (CHNAs) every three years and to develop implementation strategies to address significant health needs in their communities.
To identify the community benefit lead at your facility, a good first step is to obtain your hospital’s CHNA, implementation strategy, or community benefit report. These are likely to be posted on the hospital’s website. Often a contact will be listed… Read More
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As a sustainability professional, you can connect your community benefit department with healthy food program implementers in your food service department to help align your organization’s sustainability efforts with community benefit investment opportunities.
Connecting the dots
Collaboration among sustainability staff and community benefit staff can additionally align and amplify “climate co-benefit” initiatives that directly improve public health.
By working together, these departments can share expertise and resources to more effectively — and simultaneously — address environmental and… Read More
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Hospitals and other institutions through the United States are leveraging their food service operation to support environmental and human health.
By creating a sustainable food service vision statement and policy, hospitals move from isolated projects, sustained by the interest and involvement of a few staff, to a formal framework for understanding and making progress.
Conducting an inventory or assessment before setting the policy and plans is recommended as part of this process in order to include effective goals, benchmarks and tracking, and performance systems.
Adoption of a… Read More
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An academic medical center is a tertiary care hospital that is organizationally and administratively integrated with a medical school. The hospital is the principal site for the education of both medical students and postgraduate medical trainees. Often situated on or near a college or university campus, working together with the host institution and campus may be complicated. Now more than ever, medical and nursing students recognize climate change as an urgent threat to health and social justice.
Launched in 2023, the Climate Action and Sustainability in Academic Medicine Community forum… Read More
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Join Practice Greenhealth
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.
Who We Are
Practice Greenhealth is the leading sustainable health care organization, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,500 hospitals and health systems in the United States and Canada. Partnership opportunities include hospitals, health systems, community health organizations, NGOs, nonprofits, government, academic institutions, and the health care value chain.