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OCTOBER
2010

Environmentally
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in this issue...
healthcare to improve the health of patients, staff
and the environment. A Message from the Executive Director.................................................................................................... 2

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BARBARA BLAKENEY, RN, MS Innovations Specialist
Massachusetts General Hospital
Cover Story
Boston, MA
CHARLOTTE BRODY, RN Director of Chemicals
and Green Chemistry
Environmental Purchasing:
Blue Green Alliance
KATHY GERWIG Vice President, Workplace Safety
A Key Element in Sustainable Health Care.................................. 4
Kaiser Permanente
Oakland, CA
BRUNO GIACOMUZZI Vice President of Cardiac



and Support Services
Resurrection Medical Center
Chicago, IL
Columns & Articles
ANDREW PINES Managing Director
Healthcare Finance Group
Citi Where Does All Greening the O.R.
San Francisco, CA
JOHN STRONG President and CEO
The E-waste Go?............................................... 7 Initiative Moves Ahead........................................16
Northbrook, IL
SUSAN VICKERS, RSM Vice President, Community Health
Catholic Healthcare West Sustainability Mission Statements 2010 Practice Greenhealth
San Francisco, CA
from Practice Greenhealth Webinar Program ........................................ 18
ALAN R. YUSPEH Senior Vice President, Chief Ethics
& Compliance Officer HCA, Inc. Business Supporters.......................................8
(Hospital Corporation of America).
Nashville, TN Practice Greenhealth
Learn More about Welcomes New and Renewing
STAFF the Healthier Hospitals Initiative.....................13 Facility Members.....................................................20
ANNA GILMORE HALL Executive Director
ROBERT JARBOE Executive Vice President,
Business Development Greenhealth Tracker:
JANET BROWN Director of Sustainable Operations
& Green Building
Saves Time, Reduces Waste Costs......... 14
STAN CAHILL Senior Director of Membership
Development
JOHN EBERS Associate Director,
Sustainability Education & Training
BETH ECKL Director, Environmental Purchasing
JOHN C. JOHNSON Director, IT Administration FOCUS ON: S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y

Greenhealth
MARY LARSEN Director, Chicago Healthy & Green
Hospitals Initiative
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CECILIA DELOACH LYNN Director, Sustainability Education

& Training
LARA SUTHERLAND Director of Business Membership
LIN HILL Awards Coordinator
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Strategies
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 • GREENHEALTH 1

 A MESSAGE FROM THE

EXE CUTIV E DIRE CT OR

MANAGEMENT vs. LEADERSHIP

Why we cannot ‘manage’ our way to sustainability
Recently I have been reading and studying a lot about innovative well as external stakeholders, as vital parts of an interdependent sys-
organizations and what that means. And, as we’ve been working with tem. In the leading sustainability organizations, these beliefs engen-
hospitals and green teams across the country, we’re inspired by the der a skilful distribution of information, power and wealth among
intelligence and passion of individuals on these teams. We’ve learned employees and stakeholders because managers realize that all of the
how some of these committed people are driven to make change in parts of the organizational system must feel valued and be meaning-
their workplaces and how many are being successful. fully involved for these higher purposes to be achieved.
One of the most important success factors for these individuals
and their teams is support from the executive leadership. Buy-in and The second intervention is leadership. Effective sustainability leaders
participation at the highest level of the hospital means that the Green have the ability to keep their organization focused on achieving its
Teams are aligned with the mission and vision of the organization higher mission while simultaneously managing numerous, some-
and that this is not an ‘add-on’ to the values of the system but an times contradictory, streams of activity. Savvy leaders can inspire
‘add-into’ all aspects of operations and functions. and mobilize employees and stakeholders to embrace change as an
Vision and leadership are key. Leading Change Toward exciting opportunity to learn. In the exemplary organizations, this
Sustainability, written by Bob Doppelt, makes the point that effec- style of leadership pervades not only top management, but also most
tive leaders set the tone, defining their organizations with the clarity levels of the enterprise.
of their vision, conviction and commitment; and their principled
Change. So, in these challenging times, how do we get the world
activity. “Vision provides the goal; principles frame the path.”
to ‘change’ when it comes to implementing sustainability prac-
Clear vision, however, is not so easily achieved. Since the early
tices? We don’t. We change. We lead by example. We invest in our
1990s many hospitals and businesses trying to operate more sustain-
human capital and adhere to our company values – and we remain
ably have defined themselves with strategies aimed at reducing the
authentic. We inspire, educate, communicate the three tenets of
impacts of their industry by minimizing waste, pollution and natural
sustainability – environmental, economic, and social – and their
resource depletion. These efforts, which can ease ecological stress in
interconnectivity throughout the company, and then we engage
the short-term, minimizing environmental degradation, are not truly
with our stakeholders.
a strategy for real change. Real change comes when processes are
People change their behavior less because they are given analysis
designed to be more economically, socially and ecologically beneficial
that shifts their thinking than because they are shown a compelling
rather than merely less polluting. Long-term prosperity depends not
truth that influences their feelings. Emotions then trigger action –
on making a fundamentally destructive system more efficient, but on
impelling people to behave in the often radically different and diffi-
transforming the system so that all of its products and processes are
cult ways that substantial change demands. This three-part process of
safe, healthful and regenerative.
seeing what the problems are, feeling an urgency to solve them, and
Statements such as ‘we will be in full compliance with the law”
being emotionally compelled to act, lies at the heart of every success-
and “we will minimize our environmental and social impacts”
ful change effort.
are not visions. They tell people what not to do, what to avoid.
An invitation. I would like to invite our members to engage in a
These are backward looking images. They focus on eliminating
dialogue around changing culture.
something. Negative purposes fail to elicit the creative energies or
We are considering an on-line Forum on this subject as well as estab-
passions of employees. Effective visions, in contrast, provide an
lishing a blog to share some of your ideas around culture change and
absorbing, positive image of the future. We need to move from
sustainability implementation activities.
“first do no harm” to “let’s do more good.”
Please e-mail me personally with your ideas around pursuing this
dialogue opportunity.
Changing organizational culture requires interventions in two key areas:

First, the governance system of the organization must be altered. A Anna Gilmore Hall
majority of organizations today hold a mechanistic, autocratic view Executive Director
of governance. In contrast, organizations that have made the most Practice Greenhealth
progress toward sustainability view all of their internal members, as agilmorehall@practicegreenhealth.org

2 GREENHEALTH • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

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Protection for tomorrow’s environment

Environmental
Purchasing
A Key Element in Sustainable Health Care
When you walk into any room in a health care facility, what do you positive results throughout all departments.
Purchasers are essentially a central standard–
see? Typically, from a product and materials perspective, you might setting point for products and services com-
see furniture, flooring, painted walls, desks, lights, medical devices, ing into a health care facility.
medical supplies and more. But, the reality most people don’t see is Facilities launching sustainability initia-
tives should include EPP in their purchasing
that some of these materials may contain chemicals of concern or evaluations. But many question why this is
create negative environmental impacts in communities during their necessary when programs are in place to pro-
tect public health.
production, use, or disposal. These products might release volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) that can trigger asthma in patients or Issues/Problems
staff. Other products might become significant sources of toxic waste According the Guide to Choosing Safer
Products and Chemicals, our nation’s laws
at the end of life. Products could pose a risk on the health and safety created to protect people are inadequate.
of infants. But all of these impacts can be prevented, Many products still contain chemicals of
concern and our laws don’t provide regula-
and in doing so, support sustainable health care. tors adequate authority to take action on
known hazards. TSCA, the Toxic Substances
According to the World Commission on What is consumed by health care can Control Act, written in the 1970’s grand-
the Environment and Development, sustain- impact the surrounding community. fathered in thousands of chemicals without
ability means to meet the needs of the present Health care spends over $6 billion a year testing for toxicity and is the latest fed-
without compromising the ability of future on energy, therefore a significant genera- eral regulation to address chemical toxic-
generations to meet their own needs. To tor of greenhouse gas emissions. Medical ity. Recent health concerns related to the
reduce the environmental impacts associated waste incineration is one of the top sources chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles
products and services purchased, contracts of dioxin, a highly toxic chemical, into the is a good example; no federal regulations
for products should include environmental environment. Alternatives exist to reduce exist to control the use of this chemical.
considerations. The process of looking at this impact on the health of the community However, the market clearly demanded
products and services with a reduced envi- and solutions lie in many other products safer, BPA-free bottles.
ronmental impact on the environment and and services available for purchase. The burden shifts to the supply chain in
human health is referred to as environmen- Environmental purchasing explores single health care to understand and make product
tally preferable purchasing, or EPP. and multiple product attributes, everything selection decisions and know more about a
Health care has significant purchasing from recycled content, recyclability, to water product’s known constituents and toxicity.
power representing 16% of the marketplace. and energy conservation, toxic chemicals, In order to “first do no harm,” supply chain
Including environmental considerations in reuse, and source reduction. Incorporating managers should ask more about product
the supply chain process can occur without environmental attributes in the purchas- ingredients and impacts before the product
increasing costs and can send a clear mes- ing process provides an enormous oppor- enters a facility to reverse the trends that
sage to the marketplace. tunity for health care facilities to achieve already exist in health care facilities. A 2007

4 GREENHEALTH • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

study reported in Medical News Today found
nurses have the one of the highest incidences
of asthma compared to other professions,
According to a Kaiser Permanente case study,
even above cleaning professionals. This rate
may reflect the use of sterilizers, disinfec-
they are standardizing all computers, monitors
tants, sensitizing substances and respiratory
allergens. and laptops to be more environmentally
Identifying Hazards
There are resources available to assist sup-
responsible using the Electronic Products
Environmental Assessment Tool, (EPEAT ).
ply chain managers know if a product ®
or service may have any environmental
attributes or issues and to incorporate
those into the evaluation process. Kaiser
Permanente uses a Sustainability Scorecard
This purchasing decision will ultimately save

for their suppliers to score their responses
in the evaluation process. Suppliers are
asked about chemical ingredients, recycled
content, corporate environmental respon-
sibility, reusability, packaging, and more.
Since the 1990’s, the federal government
has mandated all federal agencies purchase
environmentally preferable products. This
mandate applies to organizations who
receive over $10,000 in federal assistance
for products. So EPA has created many
resources to support this mandate.
Understanding what environmental
considerations should be included in pro-
curing goods and services can be simplified
by referring to a number of credible, third
party environmental standards and certifi-
cations. Credible third party organizations
are those with publicly available standards
and who involved multiple stakehold-
ers in the standard-setting process (not
just industry representatives as some third
$4 mil ion
every year in energy
costs with no net change
in purchasing costs.
parties have done). Green Seal, EPEAT,
GREENGUARD, Energy Star, e-Stewards,
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) are some
of the third party standard-setting programs
commonly used. They also certify products
to their standards so purchasers simply
ask for certified products in specifications.
Other sources that define environmental
criteria for goods and services are available
online. Practice Greenhealth also offers its
members resources on over a hundred goods
and services found under Environmentally
Preferable Purchasing.
Triple Bottom Line Impact
Environmental purchasing can benefit the
triple bottom line associated with sustain-
ability – impacting economic, social and
environmental.
Economic Impact
Of the myths associated with buying
environmentally preferable products,
the biggest one is that “green” products
cost more than their comparison prod-
ucts. Fortunately, this is not always true,
and many health care organizations have

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 • GREENHEALTH 5

saved hundreds of thousands of dollars
not only in reduced product costs but in
unforeseen savings not generally factored
into purchasing decisions. For example,
mercury-free thermometers no longer cost
the Hazmat Department in spill clean-ups.
Jumbo roll paper towels and tissue (instead
of multifold) can reduce the amount of
labor to service, increasing efficiency in
the Environmental Services Department.
Installing resilient floors that do not require
cleaning with strippers and finishers (clean-
ing products considered highly toxic)
reduces potential work-related injuries
from chemical accidents and eliminates
the release of volatile organic compounds
to patients and staff. The result is cost
avoidance from worker accident costs and
potentially reduced patient stays and staff
sick leave from asthma-related reactions to
cleaning chemicals.
According to a Kaiser Permanente case
study, they are standardizing all computers,
monitors and laptops to be more environ-
mentally responsible using the Electronic
Products Environmental Assessment Tool,
(EPEAT). This purchasing decision will ulti-
mately save $4 million every year in energy
costs with no net change in purchasing costs.
This action will also reduce the use of toxic
materials and energy and increase the use of
recycled materials and reusable packaging.
Social Impact
A new study by the National Environmental
Education Foundation found that environ-
mental and sustainability initiatives help
companies achieve many objectives including
retaining employees. Employee retention can
increase operational efficiencies.
Health care facilities can enhance their
image in a community by demonstrating
a commitment to the environment and to
reducing harm. In Northern California,
several hospitals received positive publicity
from a procurement change for IV bags used
in their Neonatal Intensive Care Units. They
switched from intravenous bags and tubing
commonly made with poly vinyl chloride
(PVC), sometimes known as vinyl. They did
so because PVC production creates dioxin, a
highly toxic chemical. Also, PVC is softened
with a plasticizer; one of them used in IV
bags is DEHP (di-2ethylhexyl phthalate).
The problem is DEHP does not chemically
bind to PVC and may leach from the bag
when in contact with liquids, lipids, or heat.
continued on page 15
6 GREENHEALTH • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
Practice Greenhealth Offers
Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing Consulting Services
Healthcare facilities are faced with many challenges in the quest to become leaders in
sustainability. Environmentally preferable purchasing – that is, the purchase of products and
services with a reduced impact on human health and the environment – is another key
strategy to demonstrate an organization’s commitment as a leader in sustainable health care.
Our goal is to ensure that you become and remain an environmental leader in
health care. We have consultants with a wide range of expertise and can provide you
with whatever assistance you need.
Practice Greenhealth can provide healthcare facilities with purchasing tools and
resources to match value with environmental benefit. Our consulting services have been
instrumental in achieving results with several large purchasing organizations in healthcare.
We offer hourly consulting services and training or an EPP Partner Program for facility
members who want more dedicated time and resources. We look forward to serving you.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Become a Practice Greenhealth
Consulting Services include: EPP Partner!
◗ Strategy Development: Practice Greenhealth EPP Partners can sign up
• Creation and prioritization of strategic goals for this annual subscription program, providing:
and policies for environmental contracting ◗ 40 hours annually of EPP consulting time and
• Development of standards and procedures assistance
for purchasing environmentally preferable ◗ Promoted as EPP Partner on our website and
products at our annual awards program.
• Creation of environmental standards for
suppliers A typical EPP Partner Package may
include, depending on your needs:
◗ Technical EPP Contracting Assistance: ◗ Ongoing Technical EPP Contracting
• Development of custom RFP/RFI or contract Assistance: We review your list of
language to source environmentally upcoming contracts, identify contracts where
environmental action is likely to enhance value
preferable products for specific upcoming
or save money, and provide information for
contracts
these contracts such as:
• Assistance in evaluating vendor responses
• RFP/RFI language specifying environmental
(evaluation guidance, or actual evaluation)
requirements or requesting environmental
• Analysis of costs and benefits for
environmentally preferable products and information from suppliers.
contracts • Contract language to ensure environmental
• Support for product or contract evaluation enhancement is built into the contract.
committees (educational presentations and • Examples from other institutions that have
fact sheets) imposed environmental requirements for
this contract area.
◗ Training and Education: • List of suppliers likely to meet these
• EPP Training for Contracting Staff and facility environmental requirements.
Green Teams.
◗ Education and Outreach:
• Educational presentations at meetings and
• Presentation or workshop at annual
product evaluation committees
meetings on greening healthcare,
• Education for salespeople so they environmental purchasing, or other
understand what environmental attributes relevant topic.
hospitals are looking for
• EPP Training for staff
For more information about EPP Consulting Services, please contact
Beth Eckl, Practice Greenhealth’s Director of Environmental Purchasing,
at 866-598-2240, beckl@practicegreenhealth.org
Where Does All
The E-waste Go?
In the U.S., only 11-14% of our electronic
waste is sent to recyclers and the rest is
dumped or burned.
ABI Research says that 53 million tons
of electronic waste were generated world-
wide in 2009, and only about 13 percent of
it was recycled. The Electronics Take Back
Coalition (ETBC) estimates that 14 to 20
million PCs are thrown out every year in
the U.S. alone.
The EPA estimates that over 99 mil-
lion TV sets, each containing four to eight
pounds of lead, cadmium, beryllium, and
other toxic metals, were stockpiled or stored
in the U.S. in 2007, and 26.9 million TVs
were disposed of in 2007 – either by trashing
or recycling them. E-waste shows a higher
growth rate than any other category of
municipal waste.
Between 2005 and 2006, total volumes
of municipal waste increased by 1.2 percent,
compared to 8.6 percent for E-waste. The
United Nations report “Recycling –
from E-waste to Resources”
predicts that E-waste from
old computers will jump
by 500 percent from 2007 levels in India
by 2020 and by 200 percent to 400 percent
in South Africa and China. E-waste from
old mobile phones is expected to be seven
times higher in China and 18 times higher
in India. China already produces about 2.3
million ton of E-waste domestically, second
only to the United States, which produces
about 3 million tons each year.
Tragically, even if we sent all of our elec-
tronic waste (such as computers, monitors
and medical devices) to recycling services, this
action may not mean materials will be prop-
erly handled. According to one e-Stewards®,
www.e-stewards.org, recyclers send an esti-
mated 70-80% of their electronic waste to
less developed countries. Once there, the
materials end up in large piles where they
are burned for metals, exposing people and
the environment to some of the most toxic
materials known to man.
Ask for E-waste recyclers who
have taken additional steps to be
environmentally responsible.
E-waste contains over 1,000 toxic materi-
als harmful to humans and the environment,
including chlorinated solvents, brominated
flame retardants, plasticizers, PVC, heavy
metals, persistent organic pollutants, plastics
and gases used to make electronic products
and their components such as semiconduc-
tor chips, batteries, capacitors, circuit boards,
and disk drives. E-waste can also contain tin,
tantalum, tungsten, and gold.
Contracting for Electronics
Recycling Services
To avoid this, there is one simple step pur-
chasers can take. Ask for E-waste recyclers
(or ask your GPO for E-waste recyclers)
who have taken additional steps to be
environmentally responsible. We suggest
asking for recyclers who are involved in the
e-Stewards® program. This program identi-
fies and certifies recycling companies, and
those who pledge to be an e-Steward, who
will: 1) not incinerate, 2) not send materials
to developing countries, and 3) not to use
prison labor. To find an e-Stewards recycler,
visit www.e-stewards.org/find-a-recycler/.
Practice Greenhealth’s website contains
suggested RFI/RFP language for dozens of
contract areas, like E-waste recycling services
(referred to as Asset Management on our
site), all designed to simplify buying “green”
and assist purchasers and materials manag-
ers in identifying the most environmentally
preferable products and services. Members
may log in and access these resources at
www.practicegreenhealth.org/educate/
purchasing/speccontract/.
For more hands-on assistance, Practice
Greenhealth’s Environmental Purchasing
Consulting Services are available to create the
tools, resources, training, and other services
to suit your needs and increase your facilities
access to environmentally preferable products
and services. For more information, contact
Beth Eckl, Practice Greenhealth’s Director of
Environmental Purchasing, at 866-598-2240,
beckl@practicegreenhealth.org
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 • GREENHEALTH 7

Sustainability
Mission Statements
from Practice Greenhealth
Business Supporters
Practice Greenhealth is grateful for the support business
community serving healthcare, represented by the growing
number of Business Members, organizations who are engaged
and participating in moving the healthcare industry toward more
environmentally conscious and sustainable practices. The following
is a summary of Sustainability Mission Statements from a number
of those companies.
A complete listing of all Practice Greenhealth Business Members,
can be found on our website at:
www.practicegreenhealth.org/community/members/business/
Our website also has a comprehensive searchable directory of our
Business Members’ products and services at:
www.practicegreenhealth.org/community/directory/
8 GREENHEALTH • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
Activeion Cleaning Solutions
www.activeion.com
su
Activeion strives to protect the health and safe-
ty of all people, and foster a more sustainable
world, by creating revolutionary, chemical-free
cleaning and anti-microbial technologies for
everyday use.
Action Bag Company
www.actionbag.com
Action Bag Company values making a positive
environmental impact and encourage others to
do the same. We strive to select environmen-
tally friendly products both in our workplace
and for our healthcare packaging line. We
are a certified green company meeting the
criteria of our local Illinois DuPage County’s
SCARCE program. Lessening our global foot-
print by driving our recycling program and
energy conservation efforts are top of mind.
Our goal is to continue to add earth-friendly
medical packaging products to provide safe,
effective and greener options to the healthcare
community.
Advant–EDGE Solutions, Inc.
www.asiwaste.com
Advant-EDGE Solutions’ mission is to pro-
vide comprehensive waste management to our
clients, while maintaining the highest level
of sustainability and regulatory compliance.
Advant-EDGE employs a team of consulting
professionals whose focus is that of being an
environmentally responsible management team
involved in all aspects of our client’s waste
generation. Our personal service assists our
clients in reducing their impact on the envi-
ronment by keeping waste streams to a mini-
mum, encouraging the use of proper recycling
methods and staying a step ahead of the ever
changing waste management industry. We offer
innovative solutions to waste management
needs while maximizing resource utilization
and recycling opportunities.
Amerinet
www.amerinet-gpo.com
Amerinet’s GreenCare mission exemplifies
our commitment as a leader in environmen-
tal responsiveness in the healthcare industry,
working internally and externally to improve
the environment while bringing savings and
quality to members. We continuously strive
to promote sustainability and environmental
practices within our supplier community on
behalf of our healthcare provider members so
that we may all responsibly meet the needs of
the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their needs.
sustainability
Ascent: A Stryker
Sustainability Solution
www.ascenths.com
Ascent is committed to enabling the best
possible healthcare through responsible and
novel medical device programs. A division of
Stryker, Ascent is aligned with Stryker’s lega-
cy focus on healthcare-centered products and
services: Ascent continues to pursue solutions
that focus on enabling healthcare to improve
overall sustainability:
◗ Financial sustainability: Through Ascent’s
reprocessing and remanufacturing pro-
grams, hospitals are enabled to reduce
unnecessary supply costs;
◗ Patient care sustainability: A relentless
focus on patient safety and product qual-
ity allows hospitals to utilize savings to
invest in improved patient care;
◗ Environmental sustainability: Ascent’s
sustainability programs help hospitals sub-
stantially reduce their medical waste.
Augustine Temperature
Management/HotDog USA
www.hotdog-usa.com
We, at Augustine Temperature Management/
HotDog USA, are committed to develop-
ing eco-healthy and sustainable solutions for
perioperative temperature management by
eliminating disposable waste, engineering
energy-efficient systems, and utilizing healthy
materials in order to reduce our impact on
the environment and improve patient safety
while providing necessary and effective
patient care.
BD
www.bd.com
BD is a global medical technology company
committed to ”Helping all people live healthy
lives.” We seek to become the organization
best known for eliminating unnecessary suf-
fering and death from disease and, in doing
so, become one of the best performing com-
panies in the world.
Since the Company’s founding in 1897,
BD has been committed to providing afford-
able, accessible medical technologies that
help address fundamental healthcare needs.
Today, we also recognize that the connections
between human health and a healthy envi-
ronment are inseparable. For this reason, BD
is committed to reducing our environmental
impacts and supporting our customers and
suppliers to do the same.
Boulder Associates, Inc.
www.boulderassociates.com
Sustainability is an integral factor of Boulder
Associates’ culture; it is intrinsic to good
design and is a part of our responsibility as
architects to our clients, community, and
society. We act in the best interest of the
patient, the caregiver, the health system,
and the planet by evaluating opportunities
for their true value. We also strive to lead in
the advancement of the sustainable design
movement – from our part in designing the
country’s first LEED® certified hospital, to
continually educating ourselves  and sharing
lessons learned with clients, our peers and
the community through the internet, publi-
cations, classes and seminars.
The Broadlane Group
www.broadlane.com
The Broadlane Group is committed to
providing competitively priced contracts
for environmentally preferable products.
We support our clients’ mission to create
safe and healthy environments. We strive
to protect human health and preserve the
environment by:
◗ Providing product-specific environmental
attributes and safety information during
the contracting process to assist clients in
making informed contracting decisions.
◗ Empowering clients to make conscientious
healthcare purchase choices by facilitating
access to environmentally preferable prod-
ucts and services.
◗ Creating custom-designed programs to help
clients achieve their sustainability goals.
◗ Minimizing waste through reuse, recycling
and reduction practices, reducing our own Construction Specialties, Inc.
environmental footprint.
Centurion Service Group
www.centurionservice.com
Centurion Service Group can monetize your
surplus medical assets through its multiple
auction formats. It’s both financially and
environmentally careless for healthcare facili-
ties to throw saleable assets away because
99% of the items that are consigned to
Centurion sell at our live auctions. Of that
1% of medical equipment that is not pur-
chased, we make sure to recycle, or alterna-
tively dispose of in accordance to EPA stan-
dards. Trash is trash, so some medical equip-
ment needs to be thrown away by hospitals,
but the majority of medical equipment that
is thrown away is usable and saleable.
Cogdell Spencer ERDMAN
www.cogdell.com
Cogdell Spencer ERDMAN is deeply com-
mitted to being a forerunner in sustainable
practices. We accomplish this strategic objec-
tive through aggressive economic, social and
environmental leadership, measuring our suc-
cess with established metrics in both our ser-
vice offerings and our daily operations. Our
ability to integrate sustainability throughout
the continuum of healthcare facilities pro-
vides a unique platform to impact all health-
care stakeholders from the patient to the
community. We continuously invest in our
culture imbuing sustainability awareness into
every employee and expanding our expertise.
Sustainability informs our company as we
partner with our healthcare clients in their
journey from concept to care.
Compression Therapy Concepts
www.ctcdvt.com
Compression Therapy Concepts (CTC) is
a company formed to provide cost effec-
tive products for the prevention of deep
vein thrombosis (DVT). Our products and
support programs are designed to improve
patient outcomes and reduce the risk of
pulmonary embolism. We strive to know
how our products interact with related
modalities, assist the caregiver responsible
for the patient’s welfare to obtain improved
outcomes, and reduce the risk of associated
complications from concomitant effects of
deep vein thrombosis. Further, CTC is proud
to offer products and programs that are earth
friendly.
Acting on our Vision, “Creating products
that make buildings better”, we initiate strat-
egies and policies that daily guide how we
will make our Vision a reality for the benefit
of present and future Stakeholders.
Our commitment is not only to create
products that will contribute to lowering the
environmental impact within the building,
and of the building itself, but also to aspire
to having minimal-to-no negative impact on
the larger, global, environment.
Our commitment is enlivened through
our ISO14001 Environmental Management
System, and an ever-expanding portfolio
of MBDC Cradle-to-Cradle Silver/Gold
Certified products.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 • GREENHEALTH 9
Dirtworks, PC
www.dirtworks.us
Dirtworks, PC is an internationally recog-
nized and award-winning landscape archi-
tecture firm. Established in 1995, its designs
enhance the restorative quality of the natural
environment. Dirtworks’ philosophy is based
on the idea that interaction with the natural
environment is essential to health and well
being, and that providing a closer connection
to nature enhances the built environment. We
believe that design bridges differences of cul-
ture and scale, enriching shared human expe-
riences. With a specific expertise in healthcare
and commitment to designing for individuals
with special needs, these principles are applied
to all projects, including educational, com-
mercial, public, and residential settings.
HDR Architecture, Inc.
www.hdrinc.com
HDR offers our clients the best possible
economic, social and environmental value by
delivering integrated sustainable solutions,
both in the projects we deliver to clients and
in the way we conduct our business.
Balanced sustainable solutions result in
sound choices and decisions that are resource
sensitive; provide private and public sec-
tor opportunities for economic growth; are
socially equitable; and consider the broad
environmental context of each decision.
HDR currently has more than 763 LEED
Accredited Professionals, working on 35.6
million square feet of LEED projects, of
which 12.02 million square feet is health-
care space. HDR is a proud endorser of the
“Architecture 2030 Challenge.”
Healthwise Communications
www.healthwisecommunications.com
Healthwise Communications’ mission is to
help the healthcare industry reduce their envi-
ronmental footprint while improving quality
and efficiency. We’re passionate about health-
care and about the environment and believe
the two are deeply interconnected. Our philos-
ophy is simple: help healthcare organizations
understand their environmental responsibility
and use it to their benefit to improve their ser-
vices, to improve staff retention and to make
better business decisions. Healthwise provides
environmental consulting services to indepen-
dent hospitals, health clinics and large health-
care conglomerates across North America
including staff and stakeholder engagement,
project planning and communications.
10 GREENHEALTH • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
Hospira Worldwide, Inc.
www.hospira.com
Hospira is committed to a sound global and
workplace environment. To meet this objec-
tive, Hospira will operate in a responsible
manner to protect the health and safety of
our employees, customers, communities, and
the environment. Hospira will seek continu-
ous improvement to our environmental,
health and safety performance through
implemented goals and demonstrated results
communicated to stakeholders. Hospira will
support the responsible use of the earth’s
resources and reduce the generation and dis-
charge of wastes that could have an adverse
impact on the environment. These com-
mitments reinforce our vision of Advancing
Wellness ... through the right people and the
right products.
Jani-King International
www.janiking.com
As sustainability and the environment con-
tinue to be more pressing factors in how all
businesses operate, healthcare centers are
searching for new technology and processes
that meet their objectives. Whether those
objectives are designed to improve patient
safety, infection control or sustainability, the
demand is for immediate action by vendors
that are experts in their respective industries
Leading the field in environmental ser-
vices is Jani-King. The company’s healthcare
services division develops cutting edge pro-
grams that can be quickly implemented into
the field through Jani-King’s 81 domestic
support offices. When those services reach
local customers, Jani-King’s support system
doubles-up to ensure that the right processes,
equipment and chemicals are delivered dur-
ing each clean.
Johnson & Johnson
www.jnj.com
As a global health care company, we believe
that human health is directly linked to envi-
ronmental health. Explicit in our 65-year
old statement of values, “Our Credo”, is an
acknowledgment of our responsibility to pro-
tect the environment and natural resources.
At Johnson & Johnson, our sustainability
commitment means we are working to mini-
mize our environmental impacts while doing
everything we can to improve the health and
well-being of families everywhere.
Kessler Consulting, Inc.
www.kesconsult.com
su
Kessler Consulting, Inc. commits itself to
operating based upon principles of sustain-
ability and providing environmental steward-
ship within the communities we serve. We
will do this by implementing sound environ-
mental principles and practices in all aspects
of corporate activities in order to preserve
natural resources, including energy, water
and materials. Specifically, we will practice
waste reduction, reuse and recycling and
encourage our clients to do the same. We
will take action to stay carbon neutral. We
will build relationships with local, state, and
national organizations to advance environ-
mental education, legislation, and regulations
in Florida and the U.S.
Novation, LLC
www.novationco.com
Novation is committed to providing
high quality information and resources to
Alliance members to enable them to enter
EPP at any level.
Our Go Green Principles encompass our
mission: Initiate ways to eliminate waste
and shrink our environmental footprint.
Seek business partners that share a com-
mitment to reducing our collective envi-
ronmental impact over time. Measure our
environmental performance and establish
benchmarks for improvement. Explore bold
ideas and best management practice to pre-
vent pollution, excessive waste and unneces-
sary energy use. Do business in ways that
protect natural resources and promote sus-
tainability. Share our environmental prac-
tices and performances with our employees,
members and external stakeholders.
Perkins+Will
www.perkinswill.com
Sustainable, high-performance, and envi-
ronmentally conscious design are staples of
Perkins+Will’s practice. Many of the firm’s
projects are registered with the USGBC’s
LEED® Rating System™ with over 84 LEED
certified buildings including the highest
ranked LEED Platinum building on record.
More than 70% of the firm’s professional
staff are LEED Accredited, the highest per-
centage of any design firm in the world.
Perkins+Will is a founding partner of the
Green Guide for Health Care.
sustainability
PharmWaste Technologies Inc.
www.pwaste.com
PharmWaste Technologies Inc. (PTI) strives
to reduce the impact that their business
operations have on the environment through
sustainable practices. Additionally, PTI pro-
motes products and services that ensure envi-
ronmental compliance and sustainability in
the pharmaceutical waste industry.
PTI’s strong commitment to environ-
mental stewardship and social responsibility
are demonstrated in its measurable policies
and procedures. Programs such as: recy-
cling, package reduction, energy and natural
resource conservation and waste minimiza-
tion are among the initiatives implemented
at PTI on a company wide basis.
All businesses are obligated to future gen-
erations by incorporating sustainability as a
guiding principal in their daily operations.
Pickett Design Associates
www.pickettdesigns.com
At Pickett Design Associates, we realize
the negative impact buildings have on the
health of our environment and the well-
being of building users. All intermediate/
senior staff at PDA are LEED/AP certified.
With or without a project-specific mandate
to achieve a LEED rating, we routinely select
low-impact materials. With every design
presentation we inform our clients as to the
overarching advantages of green materials,
including the improved health of building
occupants and the resulting bottom line. The
resulting interiors have the highest sensitivity
to the human experience, the lowest use of
virgin resources and the utmost regard for a
project budget.
Premier healthcare alliance
www.premierinc.com
The Premier healthcare alliance, in col-
laboration with more than 2,400 member
hospitals and 70,000 other healthcare sites,  opportunities which result in lower opera-
is committed to enhancing the safety and
health of patients, workers, the environ-
ment and our communities. Through its
GreenHealthy® environmental leadership
program, Premier offers environmentally
preferable purchasing; corporate-wide Yes
to Green sustainability program; a climate
change program, SPHERE® (Securing
Proven Healthcare Energy Reduction
(for the) Ecosystem; and publicly avail-
able “green” tools, resources, case studies
and education through its Safety Institute
web site at www.premierinc.com/safety.
Premier leads the industry, being named
a “Champion for Change” by Practice
Greenhealth eight years in a row.
QSUMgreen
www.qsumgreen.com
QSUMgreen is dedicated to providing dis-
posable bedding and surgical draping prod-
ucts that are technologically and environ-
mentally friendly. We believe in using only
what your need, respect those around you,
and tread lightly with a small footprint…
thus ensuring a sustainable environment for
future generations.
Resource Recycling Systems
www.recycle.com
Resource Recycling Systems’ mission is to
lead environmental innovation by design-
ing, developing, implementing and manag-
ing a growing waste and resource manage-
ment infrastructure to build a sustainable
and waste‐free future. We use a full‐system
approach and help integrate sustainable
operations with corporate management
through tracking, measuring and account-
ability within healthcare facilities. Each
RRS staff member enthusiastically pursues
and shares the common mission of improv-
ing the world in which we live. RRS staff
donates time, energy and resources to ven-
tures that support our mission in enhanc-
ing the ecological responsibility we all
share in our local communities and in our
global village.
SAGE Facilities, LLC
www.sagefacilities.com
SAGE Facilities takes a ‘holistic’ approach
to designing sustainability strategies for our
clients. We find realistic solutions that work
with existing facilities and O&M protocols,
then implement the most cost effective
tional costs, healthier work environments,
more sustainable product procurement prac-
tices, and more responsible waste elimina-
tion. SAGE is more than just a consulting
firm, our Sustainability Director Program
provides our clients with an on-site coordi-
nator who will work directly with manage-
ment and staff to implement a sustainability
program that is crafted to meet their imme-
diate and long term goals.
SRI Surgical
www.srisurgical.com
Since 1991, SRI Surgical has provided envi-
ronmentally sustainable product offerings to
healthcare facilities through the delivery of
reusable surgical products and services.
Our products help to reduce Operating
Room waste by providing reusable alterna-
tives to disposable products. We deliver,
retrieve, and reprocess these products in
SRI-owned plants that are committed to
being a part of an environmentally friendly
community
As a result of our company’s internal
waste savings, SRI has been recognized by
the EPA as a WasteWise Partner, a Climate
Leaders Network Member, and a SmartWay
Transport Partner. SRI Surgical is a charter
member of Practice Greenhealth.
Stryker Corporation
www.stryker.com
Stryker is committed to sustaining the
quality of life of patients and caregivers,
and to sustaining our environment and
natural resources.
Our Products & Services: We focus on
quality of life for patients and their care-
givers, as well as improved efficiency and
reduced waste. Ascent, Stryker’s reprocessing
and remanufacturing division, provides the
single most impactful sustainability initiative
currently utilized by hospitals in the U.S.
Our Facilities and Processes: Stryker
manufactures at 21 facilities worldwide. We
adhere to rigorous manufacturing standards,
and a number of our facilities have received
certification for compliance with recognized
standards for environmental sustainability.
Sunwize Solar Electric Solutions
www.sunwize.com
SunWize is the Leading Solar Energy
Provider to Hospitals and Medical Facilities
Nationwide. With multiple hospital solar
energy projects completed and under con-
struction, SunWize understands the unique
needs of medical facilities. SunWize helps
facilities meet sustainability goals and
corporate social responsibility objectives.
SunWize solar solutions reduce annual elec-
tricity expenses and increase the bottom line.
SunWize project managers are able to meet
the uptime requirements of 24/7 medical
facilities allowing hospital operations to con-
tinue as usual during installation.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 • GREENHEALTH 11
SustainAbility
www.sustainability.com
SustainAbility is a think tank and strategy
consultancy working to inspire transforma-
tive business leadership on the sustainability
agenda. Since our founding in 1987, we
have been partnering with businesses to (1)
identify and manage key environmental,
social and governance risks and opportuni-
ties, and (2) to develop innovative solutions
that will protect and create future value.
Overall, our vision is for a just and sustain-
able world for present and future genera-
tions. Within the healthcare sector, we seek
to enable access
���������������������������������
to good health and health-
care for all, while also promoting strong
environmental and economic health.
United Biotech
united-biotech.net
At United Biotech, we’ve always believed
it was possible to manufacture eco-friendly
instrument cleaning solutions without sac-
rificing clinically efficiency. United Biotech
was conceived not as a full-line vendor but
as a highly-specialized instrument clean-
ing solutions provider. As a pioneer in
green cleaning, we strive to remain on the
forefront of our industry and supply our
customers with the most clinically-superior
enzymatic cleaning solutions available on
the market.
United Biotech has been committed to
developing environmentally sustainable
products since our inception, and we con-
stantly re-examine and adopt eco-friendly
alternatives where feasible, be it in product
production, packaging or even front-office
practices.
Velmed, Inc.
www.velmedinc.com
Velmed, Inc. manufactures Operating Room
and Surgical Support products. Our com-
pany is focused on specialty surgical instru-
mentation and other special products for the
hospital, surgery centers and clinics.
Velmed, Inc. is committed to providing
our clients with excellent customer service
and support. We provide products that are
innovative, superior in quality and contribute
to the changing demands of our surgical and
sustainability
medical environments.
Our mission is to help hospital operating
rooms reduce sterile wrapping use and waste.
12 GREENHEALTH • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
Vernacare Inc. Xenex Healthcare Services
www.vernacare.com www.xenex.com
Vernacare offers a total solution to human Xenex Healthcare Services is committed to
waste management in healthcare and is the developing new technology that can be used
global leader in this sector. Our unique to disinfect the patient environment within
“Vernacare System” creates cleaner, safer, and healthcare facilities – without the use of
greener healthcare environments. Vernacare harmful chemicals, without the use of mer-
takes a holistic approach to sustainability cury, and without  the waste associated with
and targets our strategies on the universal other standard cleaning methods. Our goal is
drivers of infection control, environmen- to replace current harmful and wasteful clean-
tal performance, and cost savings. The ing methods used in patient rooms, operating
Vernacare System reduces the risk of cross- rooms, and other dangerously con-
infection associated with re-usable utensils, taminated areas within healthcare
eliminates the usage of plastics thereby facilities with automated pulsed
reducing landfill deposits, and offers a cost xenon systems designed to
effective alternative to traditional human improve the speed, safety,
waste management. Vernacare offers a and efficiency of the room
simple way to protect the environment and disinfection process. n G
strive towards sustainable practices.
Vestara, Inc.
www.vestara.com
Vestara provides proprietary technology to
automatically identify, sort, and segregate
hazardous and non-hazardous pharmaceuti-
cal waste into proper waste streams. Vestara’s
solutions not only guarantee that clients will
be compliant with all federal and state laws,
but that they will experience a more efficient
hospital workforce and true cost savings
in managing pharmaceutical waste. Most
importantly, clients will play a critical role in
preserving our precious environment.
WHR Architects, Inc.
www.whrarchitects.com
WHR’s philosophy of “Architecture with
People in Mind” recognizes the interde-
pendence between a healthful environment
and human well-being. We realize that a
collective shift to sustainable communities
and architecture requires a focused and
strategic commitment. WHR launched
the Sustainable Design Initiative in 2008
to provide deeper resources for staff and
clients and to strengthen our knowledge
and commitment. SDI is committed to
seamless integration of Sustainable Design
within our practice, fostering a culture
within our people and realizing our clients’
vision while guiding them through the pro-
cess and advancing a paradigm of sustain-
ability for the communities within which
we build.
Learn More about the
Healthier Hospitals Initiative
Earlier this year, a group of hospital systems came
together to establish and sponsor the Healthier Hosptals
Initiative (HHI), a sector wide-approach of addressing
some of the overarching issues that affect health care
facilities as they develop sustainable operations.

T
he HHI sponsoring organizations set
out an Agenda of basic hospital opera-
tional areas that need to be addressed
to reduce the environmental footprint
of each facility. HHI developed the HHI
Pledge, which allows the nation’s hospitals
to indicate their support of HHI’s mission,
which includes:
◗ Institutionalize Sustainability in the
health care sector
◗ Reduce environmental contaminants
associated with chronic disease
◗ Remove obstacles to sustainable practices,
and provide solutions to sector-wide issues
As the HHI moves forward, it will identify
and address common issues that affect the
health care sector’s operations, bottom line,
and ability to provide sustainable health
care. One issue already being considered is
how to affect the marketplace so that it pro-
vides safer materials and products at a price
point equal to or even less those tradition-
ally offered to health care. Other initiatives
funds and partnerships to help reduce costs
associated with sustainable health care,
particularly those that require capital invest-
ments, such as new energy systems.
Practice Greenhealth is encouraging both
individual hospitals and health systems to
sign on to the HHI Pledge to indicate their
support for HHI and the Agenda that HHI
has developed for sustainable health care.
For Practice Greenhealth members who
are not familiar with the Initiative, the
HHI has developed a free introductory
webinar just for you. Please check the list
of HHI webinars on the HHI website,
www.healthierhospitals.org, to find out
how to participate. More information,
as well as guidance documents, the HHI
agenda, and instructions for taking the
HHI Pledge are also available on the
website.
HHI founding organizations include:
Advocate Health Care; Catholic Healthcare
West; Hospital Corporation of America
(HCA, Inc.); Kaiser Permanente; MedStar
Join the Healthier
Hospitals Initiative!
In addition to the founding HHI
organizations, at press time the
following healthcare organizations have
also become Pledge signers for the
Healthier Hospitals Initiative:
Cape Canaveral Hospital, Cocoa Beach, FL
Covenant Health Systems, Tewksbury, MA
Fauquier Hospital, Warrenton, VA
Finley Hospital, Dubuque, IA
Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose, CA
Health First, Melbourne, FL
INTEGRIS Grove Hospital, Grove, OK
Medical City Dallas Hospital, Dallas, TX
MetroWest Medical Center, Framingham, MA
Palm Bay Hospital, Palm Bay, FL

y
will include finding financial solutions, such
as helping hospitals gain access to funding
opportunities, from grants, government
Health; and Partners Healthcare. n G Ridgeview Medical Center, Waconia, MN
Summerville Medical Center, Summerville, SC
Trident Medical Center, North Charleston, SC
Valley Regional Medical Center, Brownsville,TX

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 • GREENHEALTH 13

Saves Time, Reduces Waste Costs
Whether you are motivated by the potential
for cost reduction, environmental benefits
or both, Practice Greenhealth has a tool that
can help you efficiently track, analyze and
reduce waste in your facility:
Greenhealth Tracker™ is specifi-
cally designed to manage waste and mate-
rial streams for healthcare organizations.
Greenhealth Tracker tracks solid waste,
recycling, hazardous and medical waste, and
donated and reused items.
It allows users to compile aggregate
data, indicating trends and fluctuations in
waste generation. Using this information,
hospitals can determine where to focus
Current users of Greenhealth Tracker™ include:
The Cleveland Clinic (the original beta tester
of Greenhealth Tracker)
Catholic Healthcare West:
St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Stockton, CA
St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Reno, NV
California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
St. Bernardine Medical Center, San Bernadino, CA
Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz, CA
Community Hospital of San Bernadino, San Bernadino, CA
Mercy General Hospital, Sacramento, CA
Catholic Health System–Buffalo:
Sisters of Charity, Buffalo, NY
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Breaking news!
Kaiser Permanente will soon be piloting Greenhealth Tracker at four sites:
Woodland Hills Medical Center, Woodland Hills, CA
South Bay Medical Center, Harbor City, CA
14 GREENHEALTH • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
waste reduction strategies and other efforts
to reduce waste disposal costs. Health
facilities can track long-term trends, calcu-
late averages, and compare their waste data
with national data to establish benchmarks
or set new goals.
Greenhealth Tracker is a web-based
data management tool. It is both powerful
and simple to use. It allows you to under-
stand quickly how waste disposal dollars
are being spent, Within a short time, you
can easily identify opportunities for waste
reduction or segregation that translate
directly to costs savings.
Catholic Health System–Buffalo (cont’d):
Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Kenmore, NY
MetroWest Medical Center, Natick, MA
Five members of the Novation
Environmental Advisory Group:
Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, PA
Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder, CO
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Portland, OR
University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital
UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
Washington Hospital, Fremont, CA
Downey Medical Center, Downey, CA
San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA
A few more direct benefits of Greenhealth Tracker include:
◗ Pays for itself. More efficient waste management means
lower costs. Using Greenhealth Tracker, healthcare facili-
ties can divert waste from more expensive to less expensive FREE ONE-HOUR WEBINAR
means of disposal, as well as reducing surcharges, tip fees ad

◗
hidden costs in waste management contracts.
Allow you to see where to prioritize goals for waste mini- Introduction to
mization and justify addressing the specific contracts that
contribute to particular waste streams. Optimizes your waste
hauling services, analyze pickup frequency and quantity.
Greenhealth Tracker
◗ Tracks individual waste streams by type. Regulated medi-
cal waste, solid waste, recycling, compost, construction and
Learn how to help save your facility
demolition debris, reusable materials and electronic waste – money by tracking your waste and
all can be monitored through Greenhealth Tracker. managing your resources!
◗ Allows for multiple comparisons of data. Greenhealth
Tracker allows users to compare data at the micro and
macro level, over time, as well as in charts, graphs or in Wednesday, October 27 • 1 pm/Eastern
spreadsheets.
◗ Can be accessed and managed anywhere and anytime. TO REGISTER:
Because Greenhealth Tracker is internet-based, users can
access it from multiple facilities or even away from work. www.practicegreenhealth.org/
tools/webinars/calendar
See an on-line demonstration
of Greenhealth Tracker™
Take a quick tour of Greenhealth Tracker™ with a video
demonstration, by visiting: www.practicegreenhealth.org/
tools/greenhealthtracker nG

Environmental Purchasing — Key Element in Sustainable Health Care continued from page 6

DEHP is a reproductive and development
toxicant in lab animals and may harm the
reproductive systems particularly in baby
boys. FDA recommends DEHP alternatives
in procedures that may results in excessive
DEHP exposure, especially in young chil-
dren. The commitment by these hospitals
sends a signal to the suppliers for safer prod-
ucts and informs the community of a com-
mitment to sustainable health care.
Environmental Impact
If you visit Lagos, Nigeria, you will find
mountains of electronic waste sent from the
U.S. to supposedly be recycled. Instead, parts
are burned to salvage metals and everything
else is left behind. Women, men, and chil-
dren work in these electronic waste dumps
becoming exposed to toxic smoke and
contamination in local waterways. Sending
e-waste to undeveloped countries is a global
environmental issue which can be prevented
through the purchasing process by ensuring
the services used are “e-Stewards®,” a program
which certifies or has signed commitments
from recyclers who pledge not to send elec-
tronics to undeveloped countries, not incin-
erate and not use prison labor. Specifying
only e-Stewards recyclers is one opportunity
considered “low-hanging fruit” in environ-
mental purchasing and helps reduce liability
by ensuring products from your facility are
not found in developing countries.
Kaiser Permanente has many environmen-
tal purchasing case studies outlining how
many products purchased resulted in reduced
environmental impacts and were cost-neutral
or a cost-savings. In one instance, after evalu-
ating and testing new LED surgical light tech-
nologies, Kaiser found the total cost of own-
ership included six percent cost savings, 33
percent reduction in energy consumption, 24
percent reduction in heat generation (reducing
cooling costs) and 30 times longer bulb life.
Conclusion
Environmental purchasing is not a fad; it
is a key element to sustainable health care
and a vital part of the supply chain process.
When patients enter a hospital, they want to
see a healing environment and not one that
could cause potential harm to themselves
or their community. Health care must take
a leadership role in ensuring products and
services do not have negative impacts that
endanger the needs of the future generations.
Sustainable products and services are available
that are either cost-neutral or a cost-savings,
particularly when the total cost of ownership
is factored into the process. By making avail-
able environmentally preferable products and
services, health care facilities can demonstrate
a commitment to sustainability. n G
Beth Eckl
Practice Greenhealth
Director, Environmental Purchasing

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 • GREENHEALTH 15

Greening the OR
Initiative Moves Ahead
The operating room (OR) is the epicenter
of today’s hospital with a recent study by the
financial benefits of these interventions are
significant, with millions of dollars in poten- As the healthcare sector
McKesson Group estimating that the OR tial savings for the sector should widespread
generates 42% of the hospital’s revenue1. A
primary source of hospital admissions, the
adoption of these interventions occur.
In the last issue of Greenhealth, we
continues to explore the
OR also drives significant costs related to
equipment, supplies and personnel – the OR
highlighted the kickoff Symposium held
in Phoenix, AZ in April and the pre-con-
benefits of environmental
is the leader in medical supply usage for the
entire hospital2. A recent study estimated
ference event at CleanMed in May. Now,
the Greening the OR Initiative (GOR) has sustainability in a healthcare
supply costs at 56% of the total budget of moved into its next – focused on stakeholder
the operating room – dwarfing salary costs at
35%3. The OR also generates huge volumes
engagement. In June, Practice Greenhealth
invited hospitals to become endorsers of the
environment, it makes sense
of waste. The OR produces between 20 to
30% of a hospital’s total waste volume4,
GOR – formally committing to work with
the initiative in one of several ways, includ- to focus on those departments
despite the OR’s diminutive spatial footprint. ing a willingness to:
As the healthcare sector continues to ◗ share best practices, identify barriers to with the highest costs, greatest
explore the benefits of environmental sustain- implementation, highlight successes and
ability in a healthcare environment, it makes
sense to focus on those departments with the
strategize about mechanisms to improve
implementation of programs relevant to
inefficiencies and/or largest
highest costs, greatest inefficiencies and/or
largest volumes of waste. Thus the OR is a key
Greening the OR
◗ share case studies relative to Greening volumes of waste. Thus the OR
target for greening efforts in many facilities. the OR
Practice Greenhealth has launched the
Greening the OR Initiative in an effort to
◗ participate in pilot projects relative to
implementation
is a key target for greening
coalesce the body of knowledge around sus-
tainable interventions in the OR, substanti-
◗ participate in educational and training
activities re: Greening the OR as a pre-
efforts in many facilities.
ate it with data and case studies, and develop senter or participant.
best practices for implementation that can
be shared across the sector. The potential

16 GREENHEALTH • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

 56
Join the Greening
the OR Initiative!
56 hospitals have formally At press time, a total of 56 hospitals have committed to
actively participate in the Greening the OR Initiative, and

endorsed the initiative and

the list is growing daily. Visit www.greeningtheor.org to
see how your organization can join these and become
an engaged participant.

committed to collaborate with The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH

Practice Greenhealth
Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis, MN
Frankfort Regional Medical Center, Frankfort, KY
Frank R Howard Memorial Hospital, Willits, CA
Iowa Health System, Des Moines, IA
Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Lee’s Summit, MO
Join the Greening the OR Initiative Magee-Women’s Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA
To date, 56 hospitals have formally endorsed the initiative and commit- MetroWest Medical Center, Natick, MA
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
ted to collaborate with Practice Greenhealth. We continue to work with
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY
a number of facilities and systems across the country to vet this initiative
Providence Health & Services - Portland Service Area, Portand, OR
with their OR leadership and hopefully sign on. To learn more about Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, WI
how your hospital can endorse the GOR Initiative, contact John Ebers Spectrum Butterworth Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI
at jebers@practicegreenhealth.org. St. John Hospital & Medical Center, Detroit, MI
As part of the initiative, GOR will also be producing a number of University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
webinar conferences, for the participation of hospitals that have for- VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN
mally endorsed the initiative and committed to participate. The first,
on Medical Equipment & Supply Donation from the Operating Room Catholic Healthcare West:
Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, Arroyo Grande. CA
was held on September 15th. Three additional webinars are planned
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Bakersfield, CA
for 2010, focused on Waste Anesthetic Gas Capture and Reclamation, California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Energy Efficiency in the OR and OR Kit Reformulation. Chandler Regional Hospital, Chandler, AZ
Community Hospital of San Bernadino, San Bernadino, CA
Business Support the Initiative Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz, CA
A number of businesses have become deeply involved with the Greening French Hospital Medical Center, San Luis Obispo, CA
Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, Glendale, CA
the OR Initiative and have contributed substantially to its growth and
Marian Medical Center, Santa Maria, CA
development. Those participating include Founding Sponsors: Ascent: Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital, San Andreas, CA
A Stryker Sustainability Solution; Cardinal Health, HCA (Hospital Mercy General Hospital, Sacramento, CA
Corporation of America), and SRI Surgical; Sponsors: BD, Medline Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Gilbert, AZ
Industries, Inc., Hospira Worldwide. Inc.; and Contributing Sponsor: Mercy Hospital of Folsom, Folsom, CA
Velmed, Inc. Each of these organizations is making a unique contribu- Mercy Hospital, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA
tion and truly helping to steer this work. Mercy Medical Center Merced – Community Campus, Merced, CA
Mercy Medical Center Merced – Dominican Campus, Merced, CA
More information about Greening the OR Initiative, including
Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta, Mt. Shasta, CA
information about how to become actively engaged in this important Mercy Medical Center Redding, Redding, CA
effort, can be found online at: www.greeningtheor.org, or by contacting Mercy San Juan Medical Center, Carmichael, CA
John Ebers, Practice Greenhealth’s Associate Director of Sustainability Mercy Southwest Hospital, Bakersfield, CA
Education & Training at jebers@practicegreenhealth.org. Methodist Hospital of Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
And be sure to tune in to the next Greenhealth magazine for more Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Northridge, CA
exciting updates on this exciting initiative! Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco, CA
Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Reno, NV
Sequoia Hospital, Redwood City, CA
References Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, Grass Valley, CA
1 McKesson Information Systems Inc. and the Healthcare Financial Management St. Bernardine Medical Center, San Bernadino, CA
Association. Achieving Operating Room Efficiency Through Process Integration. Accessed
on May 20, 2010 at: http://www.mckesson.com/static_files/McKesson.com/MPT/ St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Red Bluff, CA
Documents/HFMAProcessIntegration.pdf St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital, Camarillo, CA
St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Oxnard, CA
2 Farmer, A. and Merbler, K.Cost Accounting in the Operating Room. TriNet
Healthcare Consultants Inc. Accessed on April 15, 2010 at: http://www.trinethealth. St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ
com/Articles/Cost%20Accounting%20in%20the%20Operating%20Room.pdf St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Stockton, CA
St. Joseph’s Behavioral Health Center, Stockton, CA
3 Park, K. and Dickerson, C. “Can efficient supply management in the operating room
save millions?” Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology. Vol. 22. Issue 2. Pp 242-248. April St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, CA
2009. Accessed on April 15, 2010 at: http://journals.lww.com/co-anesthesiology/ St. Mary’s Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
Fulltext/2009/04000/Can_efficient_supply_management_in_the_operating.17.aspx St. Rose Dominican Hospital – Siena, Henderson, NV
4 Roy K. Esaki, MD and Alex Macario, MD.“Wastage of Supplies and Drugs in the
St. Rose Dominican Hospitals – Rose de Lima, Henderson, NV
Operating Room.” Medscape Anesthesiology. Accessed on April 20, 2010 at: http:// St. Rose Dominican Hospitals – San Martin, Las Vegas, NV
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/710513 Woodland Healthcare, Woodland, CA

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010 • GREENHEALTH 17

 2010 Practice Greenhealth Webinar Program
Practice Greenhealth hosts over 30 2010 WEBINAR SCHEDULE *
webinars each year, covering topics October 1 New Member Welcome to Practice Greenhealth (FREE)
such as pharmaceutical management,
October 8 Greening Operations Series: Eco-Footprinting for Healthcare:
energy and water efficiency, hazardous How it Can Inform Strategic Goal-Setting
waste compliance, and green building
October 15 Green Construction Series: Case Studies of Campus Infrastructure –
design and construction. Learn practical 2010 Update
solutions from experts in the field and
October 20 Food Systems and Climate Change – Cool Strategies for a Hot World
case studies from Practice Greenhealth
member organizations without leaving October 27 Introduction to Greenhealth Tracker (FREE)
your office! Pull together your committee November 5 10 Reasons to Join Practice Greenhealth (FREE)
or “green team” and join us. November 12 Greening Operations Series: OR Strategy
December 2 New Member Welcome to Practice Greenhealth
Webinars are included in member December 8 Greening Operations Series: Shining a Light on Energy Conservation
benefits. Non-members are also welcome through Lighting – Retrofits, LEDs, Management & More
to access Practice Greenhealth webinars December 15 Introduction to Greenhealth Tracker (FREE)
by purchasing individual webinars for
$150 each. * For details and information about registration for Practice Greenhealth’s
webinar schedule, visit: www.practicegreenhealth.org/tools/webinars/

Infrastructure & Process

for Sustainability in Healthcare
8-HOUR WORKSHOP COMING TO:
Boston - October 19 • Houston - November 4
Fees for this full-day seminar are $199 for Practice Greenhealth member hospitals,
$249 for non-member hospitals, and $149 for students

Build a successful sustainability program! For every healthcare professional engaged

in sustainability, already a member of the “green team,” or looking for ways to drive
sustainability in your organization.
Limited enrollment! Get more information or register online now at
www.practicegreenhealth.org
Practice Greenhealth will show you how your facility can integrate sustainability into
the fabric of the organization while improving staff engagement and saving money:
●● Learn how to make the business case for sustainability in healthcare

●● Learn how to build a sustainability infrastructure

●● Improve your personal leadership skills

●● Receive tools you can use – at your fingertips

More than 1,000 healthcare facilities are members of Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading networking and membership organization for
those in the healthcare community who are implementing, expanding and embracing sustainable eco-friendly practices. For more than a decade
we’ve been working with hospitals to develop customized sustainability programs.
THIS PROGRAM SPONSORED BY

18 GREENHEALTH • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

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Practice Greenhealth NEW AND RENEWING FACILITY MEMBERS,
FROM APRIL THROUGH AUGUST 2010
NEW AND RENEWING BUSINESS MEMBERS,
FROM APRIL THROUGH AUGUST, 2010

Welcomes New
N e w Fa c i l i t y M e m b e r s : New Business Members:
Fairview Health Services, (5 hospitals), Minneapolis, MN Action Bag Company, Bensenville, IL
Palm Drive Hospital, Minneapolis, MN Antrac Technologies, Inc., Ft Lauderdale, FL

and Renewing
Palomar Pomerado Health, San Diego, CA Dyson B2B, Chicago, IL
UCLA Health System, Los Angeles, CA Jani-King Healthcare Services, Addison, TX
Med Clean Technologies, Bethel, CT
R e n e w i n g Fa c i l i t y M e m b e r s : MediCycle, Inc., Phoenix, AZ

Facility Members
Practice Greenhealth is pleased to
announce the new and renewing
membership for a number of individual
hospitals and healthcare systems and
business members.
We value their support and
contribution to leading the greening
of healthcare. A complete list of
members can be found on our website:
www.practicegreenhealth.org.
Advocate Health, (9 hospitals), Chicago, IL
Affinity Health System, (3 hospitals), Appleton, WI
Arkansas Children’s Hospital, LIttle Rock, AK
Bellin Hospital, Green Bay, WI
Bon Secours Health System, (12 hospitals), Mariottsville, MD
Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI
The Community Hospital, McCook, NE
Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, Kirkland, WA
HCA, (173 hospitals), Nashville, TN
Huguley Memorial Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX
Kaiser Permanente, (48 facilities), Oakland, CA
MedStar Health, (9 hospitals), Columbia, MD
Metro Health Medical Center, Wyoming, MI
Naval Hospital Bremerton, Bremerton, WA
Northern Michigan Regional Hospital, Petosky, MI
The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON
Partners Healthcare, (12 hospitals), Boston, MA
Spectrum Health, (7 hospitals) Grand Rapids, MI
Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Veterans Health Administration, (139 hospitals),
Washington, DC
Washington County Health System, Hagerstown, MD
Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI
SustainAbility, Washington, DC
Triumvirate Environmental – Mid-Atlantic
Regional Division, Baltimore, MD
WHR Architects, Inc., Houston, TX
Renewing Business Members:
Boulder Associates, Inc., Boulder, CO
Compression Therapy Concepts, Eatontown, NJ
Consorta, Inc., Schaumburg, IL
Daniels Sharpsmart Inc, Chicago, IL
Energy Solutions USA, Elmira, NY
Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ
Lac-Mac Limited, London, ON
LDI Corporation, Portsmouth, NH
M&R Facility Concepts, Inc., San Antonio, TX
Perkins+Will, Chicago, IL
Pickett Design Associates, Culver City, CA
Premier, Inc., Charlotte, NC
Pro-Line Solutions, Farmingdale, NY
SRI Surgical, Tampa, FL
United Biotech, Deer Park, NY
Velmed, Inc, Gibsonia, PA

April 6-8, 2011

Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel
Phoenix, Arizona

Green Team Members

The fun is about to begin again! It’s time to plan for
CleanMed 2011! CleanMed is the nation’s largest
most valuable conference on environmental
sustainability in health care. And it is the nation’s
ONLY conference that offers sessions designed
especially for hospital Green Team members! Practice Greenhealth member staff receive
half-price registrations. This means you!
Come learn…network…share…and have fun with
Nurses • Environmental Engineers • Purchasing &
Green Team members from across the country.
Materials Managers • Food Service Managers
Clinicians • Environmental Health & Safety Leaders
Remember, this year’s conference Facilities Managers • Health Care Architects & Designers

is six weeks earlier than in 2010. Visit www.cleanmed.org to learn more!

20 GREENHEALTH • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

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