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Mid-Atlantic Sustainable Healthcare Newsletter - November 17, 2008

Disclaimer: Some of the events, articles, and websites listed in this e-mail are non-EPA sponsored. EPA is listing them for your information only and is not responsible for the content of the websites/articles or the information distributed at a non-EPA listed event. EPA does not endorse any commercial product, service, or enterprise, and the policy views of any included organization do not necessarily reflect EPA's views.

In this newsletter

  1. Congratulations to the Organizers of Two Recent Conferences for Healthcare in Philadelphia and Baltimore
  2. Meet and Mingle Event
  3. Putting Health Care on an Energy Diet
  4. Hospitals See Drop in Paying Patients
  5. Prescription Drugs Can Deliver High Doses of Phthalates
  6. Chicago Launches Permanent Medication Collection Boxes
  7. Recycling Market Woes
  8. Greening the Hospital and Saving Gr$$n, Healthcare Design October 22, 2008
  9. Senior Living Business, Q&A
  10. Intern Develops Customized Solution for Addressing Pharmaceutical Sample Waste at Two Clinics
  11. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Guidance Document, 9/1/08
  12. Seasonal Foods: A New Menu for Public Health
  13. New from Labs 21
  14. Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR
  15. EPA Publishes "Reducing Urban Heat Island: Compendium of Strategies"

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UPDATES ON SEVERAL RECENT EVENTS

1. Congratulations to the Organizers of Two Recent Conferences for Healthcare in Philadelphia and Baltimore

Both conferences provided valuable tools that hospitals can use to move their facilities toward more sustainable operations.

On October 3, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, Women's Health and Environmental Network, and Health Care Improvement Foundation co-sponsored a conference hosted by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Cooperating organizations included Greater Philadelphia ASHES and the Delaware Valley Green Building Council Green Healthcare Circle. Funding support was provided by EPA Region 3. Theme of the conference was Sustainable Healthcare: Forging a Healthier Future. Topics included:

On November 12, Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment sponsored a conference, "Environmental Excellence in Health Care: Promoting Healthy Patients, Employees, and Communities in Maryland," hosted by the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Architect Robin Guenther, co-author of the Green Guide for Health Care and the recent book Sustainable Healthcare Architecture, inspired and challenged participants to think about healing and architecture in new, different ways that enhance and protect the environment. Other topics included:

Well over 300 hospital managers, executives, and staff attended the two conferences and gained ideas on specific actions they can take to start or continue the "greening" of their facilities and operations.

2. Meet and Mingle Event

On November 13, the Delaware Valley Green Building Council Green Healthcare Circle held a successful meet and mingle after-hours social event at which nearly 70 professionals in building and design, healthcare, and sustainability munched light hors d'oeuvres while discussing the "greening" of hospitals in the Philadelphia area. The turnout confirmed that interest in this topic is growing and that healthcare is joining other sectors in reducing its environmental footprint.

IN THE NEWS

3. Putting Health Care on an Energy Diet

Published in Time.com on November 10, 2008, by Judith D. Schwartz. Article notes that healthcare uses large amounts of energy for its many medical procedures, and healthcare is the 2nd most energy-intensive industry in the US after food service and sales. Total energy costs to healthcare are $6.5 billion per year and will rise as the baby boomers age and need more medical attention. The article notes that forward-thinking hospitals are looking for ways to reduce fossil-fuel dependence. Specific examples Exit EPA Disclaimer are provided.

4. Hospitals See Drop in Paying Patients

Published in New York Times on November 7, 2008. By Reed Abelson. Article notes that with the economic downturn, hospitals are seeing fewer paying patients and more patients using the emergency room, putting an increasing burden on the healthcare system. Link to article Exit EPA Disclaimer.

5. Prescription Drugs Can Deliver High Doses of Phthalates

Published in Environmental Health News by Marla Cone, November 10, 2008. Some medicines contain phthalates as timed-release coatings. Phthalates are used as plasticizers and have been linked to abnormal reproductive tracts, sperm damage, and reduced testosterone in animal tests. Read the article Exit EPA Disclaimer.

6. Chicago Launches Permanent Medication Collection Boxes

The City of Chicago, in cooperation with the US EPA and the Illinois EPA, has launched a permanent collection program of drop boxes for unwanted medications at 5 police stations and at a household hazardous waste drop-off facility. Controlled substances and other medications can be dropped off 24 hours per day at the police stations; controlled substances will not be accepted at the household hazardous waste facility. More info Exit EPA Disclaimer.

7. Recycling Market Woes

In a recent e-mail, the Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council (GPCRC) noted that prices paid for recycled goods have tumbled dramatically recently, with cardboard, mixed paper, and newsprint especially hard hit. This means that hospitals (and others) who have become accustomed to being paid fairly well for recyclables will be receiving much less now, perhaps even having to pay the recycling processor to take recyclables. The markets have plummeted because of reduced global demand and tight credit. GPCRC notes, however, that businesses should not give up on their recycling programs, as recycling reduces trash disposal costs. GPCRC notes, "Allowing a recycling program to falter or fade away because of additional cost would be a mistake because you'll just pay more to dispose of material that is now trash. Remember that recycled content products are more energy efficient than products made from virgin resources. Recycling is part of our energy independence equation-and part of the fight against global warming." GPCRC makes several suggestions for improving the situation, including developing geographically based cooperative marketing opportunities and reconsidering single-stream recycling, which reduces the quality and therefore value of the recycled material. For more information on the organization or to view the letter Exit EPA Disclaimer.

8. Greening the Hospital and Saving Gr$$n, Healthcare Design October 22, 2008

Kaiser Permanente's new Modesto Medical Center proves that green design doesn't have to cost more by John Oberlin, Online Editor. With the grand opening of the Modesto facility this month, Tom Cooper, chair of Kaiser Permanente's high-performance building committee, explains that the organization saved more than $500,000 by taking a holistic look at the sustainable materials and techniques used on this $430 million project. Here's how they did it. Check out the whole article Exit EPA Disclaimer which includes several strategies and cost savings.

9. Senior Living Business, Q&A

Clark Reed, Director, EPA's Energy Star Healthcare Facilities Division, August 2008. Senior Living Business spoke with Clark Reed about how senior care providers can benefit from Energy Star initiatives and a collaborative opportunity for assisted living providers -- including a special Energy Star rating for assisted living facilities. View the article (PDF) (2 pp, 191K, About PDF).

TOOLS and RESOURCES

10. Intern Develops Customized Solution for Addressing Pharmaceutical Sample Waste at Two Clinics

The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program posted a case study. View it Exit EPA Disclaimer.

11. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Guidance Document, 9/1/08

This guide can be found in the Global Health and Safety Initiative document library. This overarching guidance document was designed to transform the healthcare market's purchasing policies and practices by promoting safer and more sustainable products and technologies. It is endorsed by health systems, GPOs and other supporters, including (as of September 2008): AmeriNet, Broadlane, Catholic Healthcare West, Consorta, Inc., HealthCare Without Harm, Health Industry Group Purchasing Association (HIG-PA), Kaiser Permanente, MedAssets,Novation, and Premier Inc. The guide (PDF) (2 pp, 44K, About PDF) Exit EPA Disclaimer.

12. Seasonal Foods: A New Menu for Public Health

May 2008 fact sheet (PDF) (4 pp, 159K, About PDF) Exit EPA Disclaimer developed by Healthcare Without Harm as part of the Going Green Resource Kit.

13. New from Labs 21

New, a Laboratory Equipment Efficiency Wiki tool to share information about efficiency in laboratory "plug-in" equipment, like freezers or autoclaves. This area is often neglected during construction and operation due to the lack of information on plug load energy use and energy-efficient equipment choices. The Wiki will serve as an online forum where users can find and share energy-use data for commonly used laboratory equipment. To access Exit EPA Disclaimer.

14. Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR

Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR is a national movement encouraging all Americans to take individual steps that make a big difference in the fight against global warming. The ENERGY STAR Pledge includes everyday actions, such as changing light bulbs to ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs, enabling your computer to power down when not in use, installing a programmable thermostat, and more-actions individuals and organizations can take to save energy, save money and help protect the environment. More information.

Join the Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR campaign today as a pledge driver to get involved and help your community or organization learn how they can help fight global warming with help from ENERGY STAR. By becoming a pledge driver, your organization can promote the ENERGY STAR Pledge within your organization. You will receive credit towards greenhouse gas emissions savings when individuals take the pledge. As a pledge driver, you will also have access to communications materials to support your efforts. Most importantly, by inspiring others to take the pledge, you help fight global warming.

15. EPA Publishes "Reducing Urban Heat Island: Compendium of Strategies"

The strategies available include:

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