Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.- Lao Tzu
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Green Office Toolkit for Clinicians and Office Managers
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The Green Office Toolkit is designed to simplify and inspire the ‘greening’ of health care practices. It includes practical and affordable ideas to make eco-friendly office improvements with real life examples. The ultimate goal is to help health professionals support the health and wellbeing of patients, while respecting the foundations of health for present and future generations. Health care is estimated to cause between 6-10% of all environmental harm (and ensuing illness) from Canadian society.
Follow this link
to download the
Green Office Toolkit for Clinicians and Office Managers
.
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Join the Coalition’s Q&A Listserv
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For nearly 15 years, the Coalition has been connecting green health champions across Canada and beyond by providing a simple and effective way to ask questions and receive answers on a variety of greening health care topics including climate change resiliency, safer chemicals, nutritious local food, energy management and conservation, environmentally-preferred purchasing practices and more.
If you are not already a subscriber, we encourage you to join our Q&A Listserv on Google Groups.
Access timely feedback from others knowledgeable in green health care; share tools, resources, technical assistance and take advantage of networking opportunities for greening health care.
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Preparing for the National Health Leadership Conference
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On June 4th in St. John's Newfoundland,
Dr. C
ourtney Howard (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment)
and
Neil Ritchie (Green Health Leaders Initiative (GHLI))
will lead a panel at the Canadian College of Health Leaders National Conference. The session titled "Emerging Challenges for Health and Health Care with Climate Change" will provide examples of how climate change has already impacted the health of Canadians and the health care infrastructure, a review of how the Canadian health system is currently responding with a discussion of gaps, and assist leaders by presenting a clear path forward by building on current and new policies.
Details on the Green Health Leaders Initiative can be found
here
.
A full write up on upcoming panel can be found
here
.
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Coalition hosts webinars focusing on Safer Chemicals
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The Coalition has recently completed a set of webinars through the Safer Chemicals project. These webinars focused on green cleaning as well as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in Canadian neonatal units.
On April 27th, the Coalition hosted a webinar on green cleaning in collaboration with
BC Lower Mainland's GreenCare, Ontario's Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Nova Scotia’s St. Martha’s Hospital, and strategic partners.
This webinar shared the results from three unique pilot projects outlining their associated financial and environmental benefits.
Another set of webinars took place on May 8th
in collaboration with
Synergie Santé Environnement
, which focused on a year long pilot project undertaken at
Pierre Boucher Hospital
. This pilot project involved creating an inventory of products containing endocrine disrupting chemicals in neonatal units and identified possible safer alternative products.
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.
The slide decks and recordings of these webinars can be found on our
Safer Chemicals
webpage.
We are grateful for the funding provided by
Environment and Climate Change Canada
for this project. The Safer Chemicals project has 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.
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Smart energy could lead to extra funds for critical health care needs
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Without strategic energy management, Kori Jones (pictured) says, there’s a possibility that energy efficiency might not get enough attention in the health care conversation. “When you think of hospitals or health care, energy management isn’t the first thing you think of,” the Vancouver Coastal Health energy manager explains. “It’s not just looking at utility bills — we actively seek opportunities to minimize environmental impact from our facilities, because environmental impacts and health outcomes are directly linked.” That’s where strategic energy management (SEM) comes in. It involves setting specific energy efficiency goals, measuring progress, and communicating about achievements over the long term.
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The Challenge continues with Net Zero and BOMA Canada
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Canada’s building landscape is changing as we move toward a low-carbon economy that fulfils our commitment to the environment in which we live. Take your participation to the next level as you take your building to
Net Zero
.
Follow this link
to learn more about Natural Resources Canada and BOMA Canada's National Awards Program.
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Manitoba's Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan
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In March of this year, a public consultation was held encouraging Manitobans to tell us what their vision is for a cleaner, greener Manitoba. The result is the Made-in Manitoba Climate and Green Plan -- a bold new vision that builds upon our early, strategic investments in clean hydroelectricity.
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Four ways to manage health care waste sustainably
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The
World Health Organization
estimates 16 billion injections are administered worldwide every year without proper disposal, while an average of 0.5kg of hazardous waste per hospital bed per day is generated in high-income countries like the US. For the record, Phnom Penh in Cambodia produced 342.54 kg of health care waste from 3,114 hospital beds, according to a 2003 Cambodia Environmental Association survey, and Japan creates 285,000 tonnes in infectious waste and 945,000 tonnes of non-infectious also in 2003. What makes the quantity of health care waste worse is that it’s not separated into hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams.
Learn more about waste streams in health care
here
.
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A survey on the Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of End-of-life Lamps Containing Mercury
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In February 2017 the final
Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of End-of-life Lamps Containing Mercury
was published, and serves as a voluntary tool that provides information on best practices, options, and considerations for end-of-life management of lamps containing mercury.
With more than a year passing since its publication, the Government of Canada has developed a short questionnaire for industry stakeholders to gain greater insight in a variety of areas:
- General familiarity with the Code;
- Uptake of best practices found within the Code; and
- Ideas for improving awareness and uptake of the Code and its best practices.
Survey Deadline: May 28, 2018
Please send completed questionnaires to the attention of:
John Cameron
Cheminfo Services Inc.
905-944-1160, ext. 114
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Date: May 30-31, 3018
Location: 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 meals; plus
- Continuing education units are available.
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38th annual CHES Ontario Conference and Trade Show
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Location: 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.
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National Health Leadership Conference
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When: June 4-5, 2018
Location: 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.
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OHHA 7
th
Annual Conference and Trade Show “TRUE GRIT”
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Date: June 5-7, 2018
Deadline to Register is May 18, 2018, so Giddy Up!
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Professional development in waste auditing and reporting
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Date: June 12-13, 2018
Limited space. Registration deadline: June 1
Waste Auditor Training
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.
3RCertified:
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.
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CAEM 2018 Conference & Trade Show
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Date: September 9, 10, & 11, 2018
Location: Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel and Conference Centre
Featured Speakers: Inspiring Guest Speakers, Leading Edge Education, Innovative Infection Control and Environmental Exhibitors, and Endless Networking Opportunities!
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CHES 2018 National Conference
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Smarter Infrastructure for Enhanced Patient Outcomes
Date: September 16-18, 2018
Location: 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)!
Monday Program Highlights:
- Keynote Address - Team Broken Earth- Sponsored by Honeywell
- Build it Right Now to Save Lives in the Future
- When Risk becomes a Reality; Behind the scenes of an Aspergillus Investigation
- The analysis, business case, and Implementation of District Cooling Solutions at Toronto General Hospital
- Upping the Game- How the new edition of Z8000 is shaping health care design for the next decade
- Impacting Patient Care by Optimizing Operations & Reducing Energy Usage
- Engineered Infection Prevention
- How Smart Robots Improve Logistics for Better Patient Outcomes
Tuesday Program Highlights:
- Maximizing Emergency Department Capacity By Design: New Workflow + Flexible Environments
- Primary Healthcare Infrastructure Design Guide: Patient Focused Design Supporting Collaborative Care Teams
- Operating Room Relative Humidity Control using Liquid Desicant Dehumidification Technology
- 5 Steps to a Successful Hospital Construction Project
- Intelligent Drains: Addressing HAI with Hand Hygiene Sink Drainset Technology
- St. Michael's Hospital: The Application of Digital Healthcare Technology into an existing Healthcare Expansion Project.
- Relationship Between Indoor Air Parameters and occupant health. Roles of the Microbiome of the built Environment
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If you have inspirational greening stories or photos to share with Green Digest readers, please send them to Dan at
dan@greenhealthcare.ca
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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.
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