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Health care systems have unique responsibilities when it comes to making sure building design and construction is sustainable and safe for staff, patients, and other occupants, including making sure:
People with any ability or disability may move around freely and safely
The facility stands ready for any emergency and is prepared to provide continuous care no matter the external circumstances
The indoor and exterior environments maximize patient healing and decrease the length of stay
The indoor environment does not expose staff or patients to pollutants and chemicals of concern
The… Read More
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Purchasing touches every department of a hospital, and a high-level commitment to environmentally preferable purchasing can anchor these efforts and drive comprehensive, sustainable changes in how supplies and services are procured.
Practice Greenhealth has collected best practices from many hospitals that are successfully doing this work. The most successful have followed a clear framework of important steps that secure buy-in and longevity, promoting the results of any initial purchases of before the organization procures its first sustainable services or products. These key activities… Read More
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Hospitals are environments for healing but many of the products and materials that come into a hospital may be harmful to patients, staff and those in the community. Some products used in health care may contain or release (during production, use or disposal) carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or other hazardous materials. Many of the chemicals used in products have not been adequately tested for toxicity. Additionally, there are a growing number of disposable products in health care and large amounts of packaging creating significant waste, and a variety of products that are energy or water-… 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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CleanMed is the premier national conference for leaders in health care sustainability.
Presented each year by Practice Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm, CleanMed brings together health care leaders from across the country to learn, share, innovate, and collaborate to develop new sustainability standards, practices, and products. CleanMed also explores how health care organizations can partner with their communities to build conditions that support health, well-being, and justice.
Tailored to health care’s specific needs and goals, CleanMed connects you with those at the forefront… Read More
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Healthier Hospitals (HH) was a great success due to the thousands of hospitals and health systems that committed to the six challenges to improve sustainability performance. It represented a shared leadership around healthier communities and provided hospitals of all sizes with free tools and resources that help focus sustainability efforts on the health care sector's biggest areas of opportunity and risk. Our success is due in large part to the strong partnerships we've formed with health care organizations and other nonprofit organizations.
In many cases, these challenges helped get… Read More
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Remote video URL
Health care culinary professionals across the country are taking their menus to new levels in creativity and flavor, all powered by plants.
Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth teamed up with Menus of Change, an initiative of The Culinary Institute of America and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to host another Health Care Culinary Contest.
Encourage your chef and culinary professionals to participate. Your facility could be home to the next America's top hospital chef.
Learn more
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The Coolfood Pledge is a new platform to help hospitals offer diners more of what they want while slashing food-related greenhouse gas emissions, saving costs, and improving health.
The pledge is a cross-sector initiative championed by the World Resources Institute with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from food purchasing by 25% by 2030. Practice Greenhealth supports the health care sector in meeting the goal. Health care is showing leadership with over 120 hospitals pledging, representing over 100 million (combined) meals annually.
The Coolfood Pledge is a free benefit… Read More
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The Greehealth Cost of Ownership Calculator is designed to support looking at costs beyond the price tag, to evaluate hidden expenses, such as energy and waste costs, and other operational costs of using a product allowing more informed decision-making based on the full costs to an organization. Below you will find the calculator as well as helpful training and support materials.
Greenhealth cost of ownership calculator v1.1
Greenhealth cost of ownership calculator user guide
Guidelines on sustainable product selection
Webinar: Getting started with the Greenhealth cost of ownership… 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 1,700 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.