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Mercury reduction policies are among the most common environmental commitments in health care. Mercury is toxic to human health, posing a particular threat to the development of the child. To target mercury reduction and elimination as a goal, hospitals and health systems first need to assess where mercury is found within their facilities, which might include:
Clinical devices, such as thermometers, sphygmomanometers, esophageal bougies and dilators, certain tubing, and dental amalgam
Facility equipment, such as switches, relays, thermostats, fluorescent lamps and light bulbs, and… Read More
Type: Basic page
Gwyneth is a seasoned management professional with over 20 years of experience in public health, hospital administration, and higher education who excels at using quantitative analysis to understand complex problems and find practical solutions. She joined Practice Greenhealth after nine years as a director of professional operations at Boston Medical Center. She also worked in the Center for Clinical Effectiveness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Department of Health Policy and Management at Harvard School of Public Health, and for the procurement departments of Yale University and… Read More
Type: Staff
View this resource to read a sample policy from Boston Medical on the elimination of mercury in the workplace, including potential sources and safe disposal.
Type: Resources
(Delivering community benefit: Climate and health toolkit) (Hilltop Institute) The Hilltop Institute’s Community Benefit State Law Profiles (Profiles) present a comprehensive analysis of each state’s community benefit landscape as defined by its laws, regulations, tax exemptions, and, in some cases, policies and activities of state executive agencies. The Profiles organize these state-level legal frameworks by the major categories of federal community benefit requirements found in §9007 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), §501(r) of the Internal Revenue Code. As state policymakers and… Read More
Type: Resources
We recognize the burden our community is under. Many of you are on the front lines of this unfolding crisis caring for people with COVID-19. From all the staff at Practice Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm, thank you for your tireless work during this unprecedented time. We have heard countless stories of hope, community, and compassion from across the health care sector. We are all humbled and inspired by you.
Supporting our health care partners remains our priority. At a time when there are few answers, we welcome you to share your thoughts and challenges so we may begin a dialogue… Read More
Type: Press
Leadership data is focused on the infrastructure, processes, accountabilities, and engagement mechanisms for sustainability at the facility level. These data points are largely focused on narrative descriptions and supporting policies or plans.
Type: Basic page
Composting landscape and food waste is a viable waste reduction strategy for many hospital and health systems. Long-term benefits of compost programs for hospitals might include:
Reduces incineration or landfill disposal costs for dense and heavy landscape and food scraps
Avoids costly extra water discharges from wastewater treatment due to food waste sludge created by industrial food disposal systems.
Saves landscaping budget by increasing water retention, aeration, and soil nutrients, which reduces mulch, fertilizers, and pesticide purchases.
Unneeded compost can potentially be sold… Read More
Type: Basic page
Hospitals and food banks will provide nutritious food to communities in need across the country.
June 7, 2016 (Reston, Virginia) – Practice Greenhealth and Feeding America announced today a new collaboration to help Americans living at risk of hunger. The nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization and leading health care sustainability membership organization have created a nationwide program to donate excess food from hospitals and health care facilities to local food banks.
More than 48 million Americans are food insecure, according to the USDA.
“Building upon its commitment to… Read More
Type: Press
Hospitals have significant buying power as they are often one of the community’s largest consumers. By purchasing food and beverages that have earned trusted third-party certifications for quality and sustainable practices, hospitals can shift the entire food system toward sustainability, without significant cost increases to total food service spending. In many cases, this can be done through collaborative efforts with the health care supply chain and vendors, via tactics including:
Using purchase power to move away from detrimental food production practices like the overuse of… Read More
Type: Basic page
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… 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.
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.