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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
The Climate and Health Innovation Award recognizes a hospital or health system for innovative work that addresses the health and equity impacts of climate change. Health Care Without Harm’s Health Care Climate Council reviews award applications, looking for creative approaches to move the health sector forward in ways that have not been widely deployed. This year's 2022 awardee is Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (VAMC), in acknowledgement of their groundbreaking technology to capture waste anesthetic gas for recycling and reuse.
"The Health Care Climate Council is pleased to recognize Jesse… Read More
Type: Press
Jake brings to Practice Greenhealth a background in consultative selling, large account management, data analysis, and contract management, among others skills. Prior to joining Practice Greenhealth, he worked for over a decade in the field of medical device reprocessing to help health systems across the United States reduce waste and create financial savings. In his free time, Jake loves being an uncle to his niece and enjoys cooking, going to the gym, and being actively involved in his neighborhood.
Type: Staff
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
Type: Basic page
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
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
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
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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 1,700 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.