Tools and resources

Environmental considerations for rapid test kits

• Sustainable procurement
• EPP
• Medical products
• Waste
• Mercury

There are several environmental considerations for rapid test screen kits including waste minimization, mercury, and PVC. This guide includes sample request for proposal language and other factors to consider when purchasing rapid test screen kits. 

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Providence St. Peter Hospital: Energy efficiency in the OR

• Greening the Operating Room
• Energy Efficiency
• Case Study
• Greening the Operating Room Case Study
• Providence St. Peter Hospital

Providence Health System has been focusing for several years on how to rein in its energy use across the system. The system has benchmarked through Energy Star and has a corporate director of sustainability who works with individual facilities to set energy efficiency targets and goals.

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Planning a battery recycling program for your health care facility

• Waste
• Hazardous and universal waste
• Guide
• Recycling

To avoid disposal costs and environmental and human health effects associated with battery disposal in landfills or incinerators, recycle your old batteries. With proper planning, a battery recycling program can provide good public relations, increased employee morale, and potential savings from the elimination of battery disposal.

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Environmental considerations for plumbing products

• Sustainable procurement
• Buildings
• Green Building
• Water
• Less Water

According to the Us Geological Society, about 410,000 million gallons per day of water was withdrawn for use in the United States during 2005. Health care facilities can be one of the largest users of water in a community and, by reducing water use, can achieve a return on investment. Use these questions in your RFI or RFP to identify environmentally preferable products.

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Practice Greenhealth backgrounder

• Member Benefit
• Member engagement
• Membership
• New Member

Practice Greenhealth is the leading nonprofit membership and networking organization for sustainable health care. Our mission is to empower our members to increase their efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care through tools, best practices, and knowledge. Founded in 2008, Practice Greenhealth is the source for sustainability solutions for the health…

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Practice Greenhealth member: Employee engagement poster

• Employee engagement
• Poster
• Toolkit

(Employee engagement toolkit) These are sample posters from Practice Greenhealth promoting how healthy environments equal healthy people.

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Environmental considerations for commercial printing services

• Sustainable procurement
• Guide

We encourage consideration of the following questions in the RFP/RFI when contracting for commercial printing services. These questions apply to services providing commercial printing of annual reports, binders (loose-leaf/media), booklets, brochures, newsletters, flyers, calendars, catalogs, magazines, manuals, CD/DVD duplication & printing, direct mail letters, flyers, door hangers,…

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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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VA Medical Center EPP memorandum, 2008

• EPP
• Policy
• Sustainable procurement
• Supply Chain

This 2008 VA Medical Center memorandum outlines their Green Procurement Program, including policy, planning, responsibilities, procedures, and more.

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