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This document provides guidance for hospitals working to meet the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) elimination goal of the safer chemicals challenge.
Type: Resources
(Employee engagement toolkit) In 2012, Ridgeview started to implement a number of energy efficiency projects. Concurrently, the team started to analyze employee behavior as it relates to energy usage. The mindset is health care is a 24/7 operation, but not every space operates that way. This allowed Ridgeview to create a list of low- and no-cost actions for employees to help with energy conservation throughout the hospital and at home.
Type: Resources
Regulated medical waste (RMW) is one area where continuous education, communication, assessment, and tracking are critical to maintaining low generation rates. Due to a surgical department’s very nature, it’s unlikely that RMW will ever be eliminated, but since as much as 30% of a facility’s RMW is from the operating room, it’s a great place to focus efforts. Practice Greenhealth and Healthier Hospitals advise a less than 10% RMW generation rate facility-wide. More hospitals are turning to fluid management systems to reduce RMW rates. Here’s how to get started.
Type: Resources
The world is undertaking the largest immunization campaign in history to fight COVID-19. Billions will be vaccinated in the coming years, which is generating an unprecedented amount of waste. If we plan ahead, we can minimize the impact and waste while ensuring safe practices for universal immunization.
The task ahead of us is huge. Innovative practices can reduce overall waste and provide a framework for safely processing hazardous materials. Medical waste must not be incinerated or dumped in landfills, it needs to be treated to reduce its impact on the environment and human health.
Health… Read More
Type: Press
By Kaeleigh Sheehan, Member Engagement and Greening the OR manager
“Globally, nationally, as a sector, we have to set higher standards, and be more mindful of our impact,” says Dr. Seema Gandhi, associate clinical professor of anesthesiology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.
Gandhi says environmental stewardship has always played a prominent role in her daily life. Growing up in India, her parents reinforced mindfulness and only using what was needed. Naturally, she brought that mindset into her clinical practice, beginning with her medical training at… Read More
Type: Press
The health care industry wields significant purchasing power, representing 17 percent of the U.S. marketplace. However, some of the products marketed to the industry generate unnecessary waste, contain hazardous materials and use excessive energy. By choosing environmentally preferred medical products and equipment for use in hospital facilities, the health care sector can actually generate demand for inherently healthier and safer products and services for patients, workers and the environment. The availability of these products for the health care sector will translate into growing … Read More
Type: Resources
Christopher has been working in health care sustainability for over 12 years. Christopher has deep expertise in the topics of chemicals, greening the OR, food, climate, energy, transportation, water, sustainable procurement, green buildings, and leads the work on health care waste and plastics for Practice Greenhealth. His focus is measuring sustainability in the health care sector through data to drive meaningful outcomes for people and the planet. Christopher owns a circular economy consulting and manufacturing firm that recycles medical plastics into sustainable products. Christopher was… Read More
Type: Event Presenters
This event occurred as part of CleanMed 2024. For information about CleanMed, the premier national conference for leaders in health care sustainability, visit CleanMed.org.
In U.S. health care facilities alone, 20% to 25% of the 14,000 tons of waste generated daily is plastic. Most plastic is produced from fossil fuel-based materials and is disposed of in landfills or contaminates our natural environment. Plastics are degraded into micro-plastics and leak harmful chemicals known to have many health impacts. The session engaged participants in discussions on the health impacts of health care… Read More
Type: Event
The University of California (UC) announced a bold expansion of its systemwide sustainability goals as part of its Carbon Neutrality Initiative and leadership on climate change efforts.
UC will aim for 100 percent reliance on clean electricity supplies across its campuses and UC Health’s medical centers by 2025. This dovetails with the university’s prior pledge to become operationally carbon neutral by 2025. UC has already saved $220 million with its energy efficiency programs and continues to leverage the benefits of its solar farm in Fresno, the largest solar purchase of any university in… Read More
Type: Press
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
Type: Basic page
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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.