Sample Environmental and Sustainability Goals for Maryland Hospitals

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Sample Environmental and Sustainability Goals for
Maryland Hospitals January 2009
Joan D. Plisko, Ph.D., Technical
Director Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy
Environment 410-706-2107 plisko_at_son.umaryland.edu
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Looking to the year ahead, how can YOU improve
the health of staff, patients, and the community
by improving your organizational environmental
performance?
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Health Cares Environmental Footprint

• Healthcare is 16 GDP - 20 by 2015
• Hospital workforce 4.1 million
• 24/7 operations
• 8.3 billion on energy each year
• Hospitals use double the energy/ft2 than
  noncommercial office buildings
• Water often largest users in community
• Over 3 million tons of waste per year

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Waste

• Over 3 million tons of trash per year
• Large percentage of medical waste
• Energy-intensive and polluting treatment
  technologies
• 3rd largest source of mercury
• 2nd largest source of dioxin
• Particulate matter ? asthma
• Growth in number of single-use, disposable
  products
• Lack of basic recycling programs

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Other Healthcare Aspects

• Toxic Chemicals
• - Pharmacueticals - Cleaners
• - Sterilants - Pesticides
• - Laboratory chemicals - Electronics
• Food
• Climate Change
• - Energy
• - Transportation
• - Heat Islands

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Nurses Have Highest Rates of Work-Related Asthma
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Considerations in Setting Goals

• Commitments in Environmental Policy
• Significant Aspects
• Legal other requirements
• Effects on other activities processes
• Views of interested parties
• Technology considerations
• Financial business considerations

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Create and Monitor Measurable Goals

• Measurable how much and by when (timeframe),
  normalized
• Accountable roles, responsibilities,
  verifiable, reproducible
• Strategic tactics, processes or plans of
  action, tracking
• Resources cost level and source

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Sustainability Infrastructure Sample Goals

• Establish Sustainability Mission or Environmental
  Policy Statement
• Establish EPP, Hg, Haz Chem, IPM policies
• Sign Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge
• Establish Green Team with representatives from XX
  departments
• Develop logo and marketing materials
• Communicate and publicize efforts with X articles
  in facility newsletter
• Develop multimedia strategy

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Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Sample
Goals

• Convert to non-DEHP tubing and IV bags in NICU,
  reducing exposure to XX neonates
• Purchase XX of all computers using EPEAT
• Change XX cleaning products to less toxic
  products, eliminating XX pounds of toxics from
  work environment and exposure
• Convert XX of paper products to XX recycled
  content, saving XX trees

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Mercury EliminationSample Goals

• Replace 100 of mercury thermometers,
  sphygmomanometers, and clinical devices with non
  mercury alternatives
• Recycle 100 of spent fluorescent lamps diverting
  XX pounds of mercury from disposal
• Implement battery recycling program to divert XX
  pounds of waste from disposal

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Regulated Medical Waste Minimization Sample Goals

• Decrease amount of RMW generated from XX to XX
• Convert to reusable sharps containers and save XX
  tons of plastic from going to the landfill or
  incinerator (disposal)
• Utilize fluid management systems for suction
  canister waste, eliminating XX pounds of waste
  from disposal

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Recycling Sample Goals

• Increase recycling rate from XX to XX with a
  stretch goal of XX, diverting XX pounds from
  disposal
• Achieve a XX of recycling for cardboard
  diverting XX pounds from disposal
• Compost XX of pre consumer food waste to
  eliminate XX pounds of waste going to disposal
• Increase computer recycling from XX to XX
  eliminating XX pounds of waste from disposal

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Hazardous Material Minimization Sample Goals

• Divert XX pounds of pesticide from usage in
  facility
• Utilize GreenSeal or Ecologo-certified cleaning
  products for XX products used in facility
• Develop and implement solvent reprocessing
  programs for alcohol, xylene, and formalin,
  diverting XX gallons of waste from disposal

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Energy and Water Sample Goals

• Conduct an energy audit and achieve XX reduction
  in energy usage as compared to baseline
• Transition XX of Exit Signs to LED lighting
• Purchase XX of renewable energy, eliminating XX
  pounds of CO2 equivalents and XX pounds of
  mercury from the environment
• Conduct a water usage audit and achieve a XX
  reduction in water usage

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Sustainable Food Sample Goals

• Purchase Fair Trade coffee and tea
• Purchase all rBGH free milk
• Reduce disposable food service ware by XX
• Reduce food waste by XX
• Buy XX items from local farmers
• Establish on-site farmers market, hosting XX
  farmers and local producers

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Set Department Goals
Through Joint Commission, departments are
required to have a quality improvement initiative
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Questions?