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As the front line stewards of individual and community health, hospitals are in a unique position to address climate change. In addition to making impactful and measurable progress in their own operations to address climate change, hospitals must work towards accelerating investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency; scaling the adoption of climate change mitigation and resiliency programs; and advocating for local, state, and national policies that ensure a sustainable and healthy future. Virginia Mason has published its pledges regarding climate change and health care.
Type: Resources
As chronic disease management statistics continue to grow, health care is focused on reversing that trend. We now know certain types of cancer, learning and developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, reproductive health and fertility problems and asthma are some of the chronic diseases that can be linked in some way to the harmful chemicals we are all exposed to.
Hackensack University Medical Center has built a strong foundation by implementing a safer chemicals policy and including safer chemicals as a standing agenda item at the Environment of Care committee meetings.
Type: Resources
Through evaluation of its food waste disposal process, NorthShore Highland Park Hospital identified problem areas and opportunities to make improvements. This led the hospital to recommend the purchase of a digester system to handle food waste, which would lead to a positive return on investment.
View the linked resource to read the report and cost-benefit analysis the hospital conducted.
Type: Resources
Dignity Health manages its operations in a manner demonstrably protective of human health and the environment and seeks new and better ways to meet its environmental goals through conservation, reduction, reuse and recycling programs. Dignity Health is committed to improving environmental management in its hospitals and to partnering with others in its community to safeguard the health of people and planet. The purpose of this policy is to articulate a commitment to respect and protect Earth and its endorsement of the Ceres Principles for environmental protection and conservation.
View this… Read More
Type: Resources
What is composting?
Compost is created from the decomposition of landscape and food wastes. In a finished product, it is a dark, crumbly and earthy-smelling material that appears similar to soil. Composting provides institutions with a method to dispose of a large portion of these waste streams in a way that benefits their bottom line and the environment. By composting, an institution avoids high per ton incineration or landfill disposal costs for these dense and heavy materials. For some institutions that use an industrial food disposal system, composting avoids sludge issues at the… Read More
Type: Resources
A navigational tool for achieving zero emissions with climate resilience and health equity
This is the second in a series of research and policy papers that Health Care Without Harm and Arup have produced together to identify a set of actions the health sector can take to align itself with the ambition of the Paris Agreement while simultaneously achieving global health goals. Green Paper One defined health care’s climate footprint and opportunities for action. This paper sets out a broad, overarching guide for the sector to move toward decarbonization. Future papers will continue to build… Read More
Type: Resources
"Adding novelty to an item can entice an individual to try something that they may not otherwise try." - Michael Atanasio, Overlook Medical Center
Overlook Medical Center in New Jersey is a signatory of the Cool Food Pledge, a new platform to help hospitals offer diners more of what they want while slashing food-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Overlook is one of 64 signatories from health care.
Here are some thoughts from Michael Atanasio, Overlook's director of food and nutrition:
Why have you focused on plant-forward eating in your facility?
Plant-centered diets can offer… Read More
Type: Resources
The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards is more than an awards program – it’s an opportunity to capture data on environmental quality improvement progress within hospitals and health systems.
Data is power. It has the power to demonstrate a return on investment. It has the power to implement positive change. When submitted through Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards, it can result in a custom report, helping hospitals see how they compare to their peers and nationally on numerous environmental attributes. This helps identify areas of success and helps to… Read More
Type: Resources
(Transportation toolkit) Practice Greenhealth is pleased to offer members a toolkit to help hospitals and health systems reduce their transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
The goals aim to reduce employee single occupancy vehicle rates and miles, transition fleet vehicles to alternative fuels, implement idle reduction policies and practices, and work with supply chain partners to do the same.
The toolkit equips hospitals with the resources needed to accomplish these goals, while providing exemplary case studies of those who have been leading the way, including Seattle Children’s… Read More
Type: Resources
Hospitals across California are required to be in compliance with the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery organic waste reduction mandates.
California has implemented several regulations to increase the diversion of organic materials away from landfills and toward the production of value-added products like compost, fertilizers, and biofuels.
California disposes approximately 30 million tons of waste in landfills each year, and more than 30% of the state’s waste could be used for compost or mulch. Organic waste (including green and food materials) is recyclable through… Read More
Type: Resources
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.