"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning", -Benjamin Franklin
Markham Stouffville wins 2018 Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award
This award recognizes a progressive healthcare organisation that has implemented programs that demonstrate environmental responsibility through the reduction of energy usage, the preservation of natural resources and effective waste diversion solutions.

Markham Stouffville Hospital believes that the high quality patient care, services and programs that the hospital’s staff, physicians and volunteers provide need not come at the expense of the environment. To the contrary, the hospital embraces the concept that environmental sustainability and ecological responsibility promotes overall wellness and is one of the best ways to serve our communities.

Click here to read the full article.
Hospitals in the greater Montréal area recycle their plastics

Hospitals in Laval and Montérégie have decided that their plastics, even those from the operating rooms, would no longer clutter the dump: a recovery project now allows them to be recycled.

Better yet: plastics are not sent and abandoned at a sorting centre, with a rather uncertain future. Hospital centres ensure that they will be reused and transformed into new plastic objects.

"We are not talking about biomedical waste here, but about quality plastics, which are sometimes even sterile, without any trace of contamination by blood or other human fluids," argues Nathalie Robitaille, Assistant Director at Synergie Santé Environnement (SSE), a non-profit organization and a social economy enterprise whose mission is to support health establishments in reducing their environmental impacts.

Read the full article including an interview with Synergie Sante Environnment here ,
Green Health Leaders' present at Canadian Conference on Physician Leadership

On April 21st, 2018, Neil Ritchie, head of the Green Health Leaders Initiative, led an interactive workshop at the Canadian Conference on Physician Leadership .  This conference attracts physicians in leadership roles from across Canada and internationally. The workshop, titled "First do no harm: how physicians can lead the green health movement to heal the planet" engaged physician leaders and challenged them to take a stronger leadership role in environmental stewardship in their organizations. Dr. Lisa J. Jing Mu also joined the session with a presentation on the "Green Office Toolkit: for physicians and office management" a resource that outlines ways physicians and other leaders can improve their practices.

Other highlights from the session included a presentation on the impact health care has on our natural environment, and two break-out sessions involving green teams, greening food, transportation and health care facilities. "What stood out for me was that all of the participants wanted to make changes in their organisations, but knowing  where to start was a major challenge. It was my hope that we helped them to start to build their road maps towards sustainability" stated Ritchie. Follow this link if you want to learn more about the Green Health Leaders' Initiative
JAMA Forum: Private and public sector responses to climate change

Three developments in late 2017 heightened attention to the critical intersection between science, climate change, and health:
  1. The US Global Change Research Program’s Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4).
  2. Leaders from nearly 200 countries met at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to advance guidelines and procedures for implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement pledges to collectively limit global warming to 2oC (3.6oF) higher than preindustrial levels by 2025.
  3. The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change urged the global health community to shift away from 25 years of inaction, pledging to report regularly on health outcomes related to Paris Agreement commitments.

All these developments heighten urgency for climate change action, including decreasing reliance on carbon-intense fuels, reducing energy consumption, and improving fuel economy.

Click here to read the full Journal of the American Medical Association article.
Reducing hospital malnutrition with a circular economy approach infofraphic
Click the image below to download the Health Care Without Harm infographic
Blueprints for benchmarking benefits! Success stories from the south

With  ENERGY STAR ® Certification  now available in Canada, many are wondering about the impact certification has had in the U.S. From sector to sector, we find success story after success story.

In hospitals:

  • The largest not-for-profit health care system in Southeast Texas.
  • Responsible for overlooking 19 major campus locations, including medical offices and outpatient health care facilities, totalling 11 million square feet (just over 1 million m2)
  • 2017 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence
What's good for patients is good for the bottom line at  Memorial Hermann Health System in Southeast Texas.

Click here to read more about ENERGY STAR ® .
EVENTS AND WEBINARS
Webinar: Using Safer Chemicals and New Technologies for Green Cleaning in Health Care Facilities
Webinar: Using Safer Chemicals and New Technologies for Green Cleaning in Health Care Facilities
DATE : Friday April 27, 2018  
TIME: 12:00PM- 1:00PM EDT (Eastern Daylight Time)
9:00AM- 10:00AM PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)

Join our webinar to learn more about the Coalition’s two-year clean water toxics reduction initiative.
 
Working collaboratively with BC Lower Mainland GreenCare, Ontario's Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Nova Scotia’s St. Martha’s Hospital, the Coalition for Healthcare Acquired Infection Reduction, Class 1 Inc., and Tersano Inc., the project set out to remove approximately 250 kilograms of toxics and other hazardous waste per year from Canada’s health care sector by replacing harsh chemical agents with safer alternatives and implementing systems that reduce or eliminate the need for chemical use.

Learn about substituting Aqueous Ozone for traditional cleaning chemicals, the methodologies used in two Canadian health care facility pilot studies and hear about the study results and their associated financial and environmental benefits. In another study, UV systems were integrated into a health care cleaning regime to help improve infection control.
 
The results of these pilot studies are being used to develop comprehensive best practices to strategically reduce harmful chemicals discharged by our health care facilities, and improve infection control outcomes.
Energy Summit 2018
Energy Summit 2018
May 30-31, 3018
Vaughan, Ontario

Canada’s unparalleled conference on energy efficiency is fast approaching. Targeting Canadian industry and buildings sectors,  ENERGY SUMMIT 2018 Maximize Profitability through Energy Performance , will drive adoption of energy management systems to help you:
  • meet profitability goals;
  • increase competitiveness; and
  • become more sustainable through smart energy management 
 
 
Key benefits include:
  • Leading industry champions – keynote speakers Andrew Bowerbank, Monica Curtis and Malini Giridhar will share realistic solutions to help your organisation thrive in today’s competitive environment;
  • Four streams with 16 innovative sessions, learning workshops and two plant tours – take home the tools, business cases and best practices to advance your energy initiatives;
  • More than 50 subject matter experts and an Exhibitor Showcase – invaluable networking opportunities with resources and future partners;
  • CIPEC Leadership Awards Gala – recognize industry’s top performers and future leaders;
  • Conference mealsplus
  • Continuing education units are available.
 
Bring  your energy  and  register today !
38th annual CHES Ontario Conference and Trade Show
CHES Ontario Conference and Trade Show
June 3rd-5, 2018
Blue Mountain Resort - Collingwood, Ontario
 
Registration for vendors and delegates now open.
Join friends and colleagues for the 38 th  annual event including multiple education sessions, Keynote Speaker “Humble” Howard Glassman, the annual golf tournament and gala evening.

Click here for complete details
National Health Leadership Conference 
National Health Leadership Conference
June 4-5, 2018  
St. John's, Newfoundland 

This conference is the largest national gathering of health system decision-makers in Canada including trustees, chief executive officers, directors, managers, department heads and other health leaders representing various sectors and professions in health regions, authorities and alliances, hospitals, long-term care organisations, public health agencies, community care, mental health and social services. As well, the conference draws participants from government, education and research organisations, professional associations, consulting firms and industry. 

Download the comprehensive brochure here

OHHA 7 th  Annual Conference and Trade Show “TRUE GRIT”
OHHA 7 th  Annual Conference and Trade Show “TRUE GRIT”
June 5-7, 2018
Pinestone Resort - Haliburton, Ontario

Deadline to Register is May 18, 2018, so Giddy Up!

Click this link to learn about the various sessions for "TRUE GRIT"
Professional development in waste auditing and reporting
Professional development in waste auditing and reporting
Waste Auditor Training
June 12-13, 2018
Limited space. Registration deadline: June 1

Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO) offers annual  Waste Auditor Training  sessions, which are based on a Standard Waste Audit Method that supports development in key areas: 
  • accurate and standardized methods of measuring and reporting performance
  • auditing principles
  • sampling methods
  • benchmarking and data analysis
  • best practices
  • compliance with regulation
 
Training Objectives:  
A combination of lectures and workshops offers attendees hands-on experience through case studies, creation of audit plans, and development and application of auditing skills through table-top scenarios and situational exercises.
 
Participants also learn about modern methods of performance measurement, methods of calculating waste reduction, and realistic indicators of effective source separation programs. Participants apply audit findings into compliant and effective waste reduction work plans that focus on waste reduction and reuse as priorities.
 
3RCertifie:
Launched in 2013  3RCertified  is for the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) sector, and aims to standardize and enhance waste minimization practices through waste audits and a comprehensive analysis of the entire lifecycle of material management – from procurement to final destination. 
 
Attendees that acquire the Certificate of Completion are added to a  service providers  list that supports 3RCertified. Organizations that apply for 3RCertified status also receive points toward their certification for engaging auditors.

Fees:
RCO Member: $1,575
RCO Future Member: $1,775
 
Register:
Waste Auditor Training is a popular learning and development opportunity, and each session is limited to 16 registrations.
 
Email  3RCertified@rco.on.ca  to register now or be placed on a waiting list for future sessions.

CleanMed 2018
CleanMed
May 7-9, 2018
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marin - San Diego, California

CleanMed is the premier national environmental conference for leaders in health care sustainability who are on the leading edge of greening the health care sector. It’s the one time each year for businesses with environmentally preferable products and services or nutritious, sustainable foods to connect with the health care leaders who make purchasing decisions for their facilities. No other conference will connect you with the leaders at the forefront of implementing sustainability projects, green building design and environmentally preferable purchasing.
CHES National Conference
Smarter Infrastructure for Enhanced Patient Outcomes

CHES 2018 National Conference
September 16-18, 2018
St. John's Convention Centre - St John's, Newfoundland
 

Don't forget to book your booth for the CHES 2018 National Conference in St. John's NL, September 16-18, 2018.  
Space is limited in 2018 so reserve your booth today (if you have not already done so)! 


See ya da once!
Do you have any photos or stories to share with The Green Digest? Please send them to Dan at dan@greenhealthcare.ca
Some articles referred to in the Digest make reference to services and/or product offerings from specific suppliers. The CCGHC recommends that readers research the service and product offerings available through a wider range of suppliers for comparison purposes and in keeping with public sector purchasing guidelines. These articles should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any product or service.