Tools and resources

Green Guide for Healthcare: Mercury reduction

• Chemicals
• Guide
• Mercury
• Purchasing

In 1998, a Memorandum of Understanding between the American Hospital Association and the U.S. EPA set new goals for hospital pollution prevention. One of the top priorities was the virtual elimination of mercury and mercury-containing devices from the hospital purchasing and waste stream. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. The most sensitive health effect of mercury is an adverse impact on the…

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Healthy hospitals: Controlling pests without harmful pesticides

• Chemicals
• Integrated pest management
• Report

Although many people have come to assume that applying pesticides is the only way to control pests and ensure a clean, healthy health care facility, this report shows that pests can be successfully managed without toxic pesticides and without having an adverse effect on the quality of patient care. Health care facilities have another opportunity to “first, do no harm” by changing the way they…

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Landscaping integrated pest management template contract

• Integrated pest management
• Guide
• Buildings
• Green Building
• Sustainable procurement
• Chemicals

Generic template for contracting integrated pest management for landscaping services at a health care facility. 

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Maryland Pesticide Network Sample RFP

• Chemicals
• Integrated pest management
• Exemplary Document
• Tool

While it is essential that hospitals maintain a clean environment free of pests, it is also important that patients, staff, and visitors be protected from exposure to pesticides. Pesticides are known to contribute to cancer, neurological disorders, problems with reproduction, birth defects, and liver and kidney damage. They also can cause irritation to the eyes and skin, can trigger respiratory…

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NorthShore University Health System: Mercury Policies (2016)

• Chemicals
• Mercury
• Exemplary Document
• NorthShore University HealthSystem
• Policy

It is the policy of NorthShore University Health System to prohibit all unnecessary acquisition of mercury-added products in its facilities and to ensure that all mercury containing equipment and waste is managed and disposed in a manner that is safe, protective of the environment, and compliant with all applicable regulations. The policy establishes guidelines for the procurement, use, and…

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NYU Langone: Contracting Purchasing (2016)

• Waste
• Chemicals
• Exemplary Document
• Hazardous and universal waste
• Policy
• NYU Langone Medical Center

NYU Langone Medical Center provides an example of a safety policy on the proper management and disposal of hazardous waste from contractors involved in construction and building maintenance. The purpose of this policy is to protect human health and the environment and to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.   View this resource to read the full policy from…

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NYU Langone: Mercury Policies (2016)

• Chemicals
• Mercury
• NYU Langone Medical Center
• Exemplary Document
• Policy

In an effort to protect personnel and the environment, it is the policy of NYU Langone Medical Center to eliminate the use of mercury-containing products and equipment where safe, effective alternatives exist. The mercury elimination program requires that where no acceptable substitute is available, products containing mercury will be clearly labeled, inventoried, safely handled and properly…

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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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Standardized environmental questions for OR surgical drapes

• EPP
• EPP Resource
• Devices
• Chemicals
• Safer medical products and devices

The standardized environmental questions for medical products are a set of supplier questions that can be used in the procurement process for OR surgical drapes to identify environmentally preferable products.  People can be exposed through the use of products containing these chemicals in the OR. In 2002, the FDA issued a Public Health Notification for PVC devices containing DEHP. DEHP is also…

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Environmental Considerations for Cabinetry

• Healthy interiors
• Guide
• Furnishings
• Chemicals

Practice Greenhealth presents a guide to questions and issues to consider when assessing or purchasing cabinetry.

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