NEWS  RELEASE   FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  

TEL 888.688.3332 • FAX 866.379.8705 • WWW.PRACTICEGREENHEALTH.ORG

November  9,  2010   Contact:   Mary  Lisi  
      Practice  Greenhealth  

12355 SUNRISE VALLEY DRIVE, SUITE 680 • RESTON, VA 20191 USA

      888-­‐379-­‐6664  
      mlisi@practicegreenhealth.org  
 
 
Practice  Greenhealth  Announces  Launch  of  Research  Study    
to  Document  Impact  of  Healthcare  Sustainability  Best  Practices,  
Sponsored  by  Medical  Technology  Company  BD  
 
(Reston,  Virginia)  Practice  Greenhealth  today  announced  the  launch  of  a  groundbreaking  study  to  
investigate  and  document  the  impact  of  sustainability  “best  practices”  on  patient  and  worker  
outcomes  and  lowering  costs,  which  will  be  funded  by  global  medical  technology  company  BD.  The  
project  is  a  combined  effort  of  the  recently  organized  Health  Care  Research  Collaborative.  
 
The  Health  Care  Research  Collaborative  is  a  partnership  of  Practice  Greenhealth,  the  nation’s  leading  
member-­‐based  organization  dedicated  to  sustainability  in  healthcare;  the  international  advocacy  
organization  Health  Care  Without  Harm;  and  the  Healthier  Hospitals  Initiative,  a  coalition  of  leading  
U.S.  health  systems  committed  to  improving  sustainability  and  safety  across  the  healthcare  sector.  
HHI  founders  include:  Advocate  Health  Care,  Catholic  Healthcare  West,  Hospital  Corporation  of  
America,  Inc,  Kaiser  Permanente,  MedStar  Health,  and  Partners  Healthcare  Systems,  Inc.  HHI  recently  
developed  a  Healthier  Hospitals  Agenda  that  uses  evidence-­‐based  design  and  research  data  to  
recommend  nine  categories  of  sustainability  interventions,  and  specific  actions  within  each  category.    
 
The  year-­‐long  study,  will  collect  comprehensive  data  from  hospitals  around  the  country  that  are  
currently  implementing  the  HHI  Agenda  recommendations  or  otherwise  implementing  comprehensive  
sustainability  actions,  including:  design  and  operate  healthier  and  safer  facilities  for  patients  and  
employees;  purchase  safer  and  more  sustainable  products  and  materials,  and  support  the  use  of  safer  
chemicals  and  green  chemistry;  promote  nutritious,  sustainable  food  choices;  reduce  the  consumption  
of  energy;  conserve  water;  minimize  waste  and  emissions;  address  pharmaceutical  waste;  improve  
transportation  strategies  for  patients  and  staff;  and  create  a  culture  in  which  sustainability  is  linked  to  
patient  and  worker  safety.    
 
“BD  is  pleased  to  support  this  long-­‐needed  research  toward  developing  data  that  could  clearly  
demonstrate  the  benefits  of  sustainability  efforts  on  health  and  economic  outcomes,”  said  Glenn  
Barbi,  BD  Vice  President  of  Global  Sustainability.  “We  are  committed  to  providing  affordable,  
accessible  medical  technologies  that  help  address  fundamental  healthcare  needs.  Today,  BD  also  
recognizes  that  the  connections  between  human  health  and  a  healthy  environment  are  inseparable.  
For  this  reason,  we  are  committed  to  reducing  our  environmental  footprint  and  supporting  our  
customers  and  suppliers  to  do  the  same.”  
 
Data  suggests  that  sustainable  practices  in  health  care  can  lead  to  better  patient  outcomes,  fewer  
work-­‐related  injuries,  a  cleaner  environment,  and  significant  cost  savings.  However,  the  evidence  of  
such  benefits  is  mainly  anecdotal.  Research  is  needed  that  examines  the  impact  of  comprehensive  
sustainability  interventions  in  hospitals  on  patient  and  worker  outcomes  and  cost  savings,  identifying  
the  most  effective  components.    
 
For  example,  system-­‐wide  conservation  practices  in  a  hospital  network  cut  water  use  by  20  to  30  
percent,  saving    $100,000  a  year  for  some  facilities.  Reductions  in  hospitals’  energy  use  of  18  to  20  
percent  are  achievable  using  current  standard  technology  coupled  with  minor  capital  expenditures  
costing  one  to  two  percent.  One  hospital  reported  that  workers  compensation  claims  went  down  after  
it  implemented  a  greener  cleaning  program.  When  Kaiser  Permanente  launched  an  Environmentally  
Preferred  Purchasing  Program,  they  saved  $20  million  in  one  year  while  opening  up  the  market  to  
more  affordable,  healthier  products.  HCA  implemented  a  medical  device  reprocessing  program  in  
2009,  saving  $30  million  across  its  system  with  only  20%  compliance.  In  terms  of  design,  access  to  
daylight  in  hospitals  has  been  linked  with  reduced  depression  among  patients,  reduced  length  of  stay,  
and  reduced  intake  of  pain  medication.  One  U.S.  study  found  consistent  positive  correlation  between  
17  greener  buildings  and  staff  recruitment  and  retention.  If  these  savings  can  be  spread  across  the  
entire  sector,  the  healthcare  cost  savings  will  result  in  billions  of  dollars  per  year.    
 
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About  Practice  Greenhealth:  
Practice  Greenhealth  is  the  nation’s  leading  membership  and  networking  organization  for  institutions  
in  healthcare  that  have  made  a  commitment  to  sustainable,  eco-­‐friendly  practices.  To  learn  more  
about  Practice  Greenhealth,  visit:  www.practicegreenhealth.org