Tools and resources

Pros and cons of specific sterilants and disinfectants

• Chemicals
• Sterilants and Disinfectants
• Report

OSHA animal studies show that ethylene oxide (EtO) is a known carcinogen; it may cause leukemia and other cancers. Inhalation can cause nausea, vomiting, neurological disorders. In solution, EtO can severely irritate and burn the skin, eyes, and lungs and may damage the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys or cause cataracts. 

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Pros and cons of sterilization and disinfection

• Chemicals
• Sterilants and Disinfectants
• Sterilization and Disinfection
• Green Cleaning

Here is a chart with some samples of pros and cons when considering sterilization and high-level disinfection options.

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Sample mercury elimination and management policy

• Exemplary Document
• Chemicals
• Mercury
• Policy

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for removing mercury‐containing equipment where safe, effective, mercury‐ free alternatives exist and ensuring the safe handling of remaining mercury‐containing chemicals and equipment.   

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Advocate Health Care design standard bulletin: Healthy interiors

• Chemicals
• Exemplary Document
• Advocate Health Care
• Healthy interiors

This exemplary document from Advocate Health Care demonstrates how this system achieved the Healthy Interiors goal:  “Effective immediately, purchases of freestanding furniture and medical furnishings for any Advocate capital or renovation project are to be specified without the intentional use of the following chemicals: halogenated fire retardants formaldehyde, perfluorinated compounds, and…

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Suggested integrated pest management RFP Questions

• Chemicals
• Tool
• Integrated pest management

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a coordinated approach to pest management that seeks to prevent unacceptable levels of pests by prioritizing the most-effective means with the least possible hazard to building occupants, workers and the environment. This is a strategy focusing on long-term prevention and suppression of pest problems through a combination of practices such as structural,…

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Boston Medical Center: Mercury Inventory (2016)

• Chemicals
• Mercury
• Exemplary Document
• Boston Medical Center
• Policy

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.

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Ten-step guide to implementing an integrated pest management program

• Chemicals
• Guide
• Integrated pest management

One of the most important responsibilities of any health care provider can be captured best by four wellknown words from the writings of Hippocrates: “First, do no harm.” Adhering to that maxim is intuitive and ethical, and in recent years has led to a variety of programs to improve not only the tools and techniques of modern medicine, but also the health care environment itself. One of the most…

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NorthShore University HealthSystem 2016

• Chemicals
• Exemplary Document
• NorthShore University HealthSystem
• Presentation

Open this resource to view a presentation on the integration of medical toxicology into personalized medicine. The information includes risks of exposure to toxins, symptoms of exposure, and case studies. The presentation emphasizes the importance of knowing the personal and occupational environment of a patient and how any risk assessment should integrate environmental metrics.

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Mayo Clinic hand hygiene initiative: Eliminating antimocrobial hand soaps

• Chemicals
• Hand Hygiene
• Case Study
• Safer Chemicals Case Study
• Mayo Clinic
• Toolkit

(Safer hand hygiene toolkit) Mayo Clinic set out to standardize hand soaps throughout the system and reduce costs. Infection prevention and control brought forward a critical goal to eliminate the use of antimicrobial hand hygiene products used in patient care and public areas. A multi-disciplinary team reviewed and piloted hand hygiene products and collected user feedback on those products. Mayo…

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Providence St. Patrick Hospital: Eliminating hand soaps containing triclosan

• Chemicals
• Hand Hygiene
• Case Study
• Safer Chemicals Case Study
• Providence St. Patrick
• Safer hand hygiene
• Toolkit

(Safer hand hygiene toolkit) In 2011, Providence St. Patrick Hospital set out to review the use of hand soaps containing triclosan due to emerging health and environmental concerns. New data and recommendations from authoritative bodies helped convince the Infection Prevention team that a switch was warranted. In 2012, Providence St. Patrick Hospital was able to eliminate triclosan from hand…

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