Tools and resources

Anesthetic gas toolkit executive summary

• Toolkit
• Anesthetic Gas
• Greening the Operating Room
• Greenhouse Gas

(Anesthetic gas toolkit) Anesthesia and anesthetic gases have a direct impact on the environment, patients, and community health.  Use the anesthetic gas toolkit executive summary for a quick overview on key talking points and rationale for focusing on anesthesia and the need to engage providers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

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Sustainable procurement digest

• Sustainable procurement
• Chemicals
• Food
• Energy
• Buildings
• Transportation
• Waste
• Water
• Toolkit

This digest provides resources for purchasing sustainable products. Use the resources to identify environmental considerations for products and services, where to obtain more information, and the rationale for purchasing sustainably. Please contact the procurement team with any questions.  Sustainable procurement directory This resource provides Practice Greenhealth members with guidance on…

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Environmental considerations for ice machines and water coolers

• Sustainable procurement
• Sustainable food service operations
• Guide

These environmental considerations for ice machines and water coolers will help facilitate the purchasing process. 

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St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center: medical waste reduction

• Case Study
• Waste
• Regulated medical waste
• Toolkit

(Less waste toolkit) Since 2009, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center has reduced its regulated medical waste (RMW) from 10 to seven percent of total waste, saving an estimated $2,000 per year in waste disposal fees. The operating room and endoscopy personnel identified opportunities for improvement. This win-win opportunity was accomplished through education, improved segregation, and regular…

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Best practices for disposal of controlled substances

• Pharmaceuticals

There is increased concern over pharmaceuticals in waterways. There are “no drugs down the drain” rules in certain states. And harm can come from unauthorized access to controlled substances and the resulting wastage. Health care facilities must address these issues and ensure alignment with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations as well as…

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Greenhealth total cost of ownership case study template

• Cost of Ownership
• Sustainable procurement
• Toolkit
• Tool

(Greenhealth cost of ownership toolkit) Use our template to share your experience and results with the Greenhealth total cost of ownership calculator with others to show your great work. 

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Hospice of the Western Reserve: Green Team

• Engaged Leadership

Hospice of the Western Reserve began its sustainability journey in 2009 when staff formed an organizational Green Team. Since then, the Green Team has spearheaded several sustainability victories across several different program areas. 

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Data 101 webinar series: How to conduct a material and waste baseline

• Waste
• Webinar
• Solid waste

How to conduct a material and waste baseline - Join this webinar for an overview of the categories that Practice Greenhealth has established in order for hospitals to use a standardized practice for measuring materials and waste. Review a step-by-step approach to understanding and tracking each waste stream, as required by Practice Greenhealth. 

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NorthShore Health System: Implementing successful waste management/recycling initiatives in the OR

• Greening the Operating Room

This presentation, an exemplary document from NorthShore HealthSystem,  shows how one facility was successful at implementing waste management/recycling initiatives in the operating room.

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Best practices for disposal of controlled substances

• Waste
• Pharmaceutical Waste
• Guide

In light of the opioid epidemic, environmental concern over medication in waterways and confusing and sometimes conflicting DEA and EPA regulations, Practice Greenhealth formed a controlled substances work group to develop a guidance document helping health care facilities properly and legally manage controlled substances within the facility.  The flow chart leads the facility through the steps…

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