Edition 13 | February 25, 2022

Welcome to the Green Corner!

This newsletter will keep you updated with stories, challenges, resources and myth-busting information about how you can make more environmental sustainable choices.

The word ‘care’ abounds in our work. We care about our patients. We provide high quality care. The Green Initiative enables low carbon care. So, in launching our latest initiative, we decided to use this word to capture its scope: introducing…the C.A.R.E. Project: Clean Air, Respiratory Excellence.

Clean Air: Some inhaler types have a huge carbon footprint; just one metered dose inhaler (MDI) has the emissions equivalent impact of a 290km car drive.¹ Just multiply that by the number of metered dose inhalers dispensed (for example: ~900,000 salbutamol inhalers distributed across Canada every month²) and we start to see the impact of reducing these prescriptions when clinically appropriate. 

Respiratory Excellence: Confirmation of COPD and asthma diagnoses with spirometry, appropriate inhaler prescription (based on guidelines), and correct inhaler usage technique all benefit respiratory health.

If your team can engage with only ONE Green initiative, THIS IS THE ONE that could have the most impact. These shifts take coordinated efforts, and we have already presented our information to the HFHT pharmacists and QI specialists, and the Best Care program, all of whom are ready to help make these changes with us. 

References: 

2) Tier Assignment Committee Information Sheet: Inhalation Drugs Impacted by COVID-19. Health Canada; 2020:4.

Come join us to learn more about the C.A.R.E. project on our upcoming FREE 1 hour webinars. These webinars are open to all members of the health care team with certificates of attendance for all attendees. For physicians, the one hour webinar is accredited with the CFPC for 3 Mainpro+ credits. The webinar contents are evidence-based and the action plans have been trialed at our pilot site, so you know it is practical and doable. We include fun quizzes and engagement as well as 2 $25 gift certificate prizes to win, tools for change, and an Action Plan builder!

DATES: 

• March 24, 2022, 8-9am
• March 30, 2022, 12-1pm
• April 5, 2022, 8-9pm

Though our educational focus for now will be the C.A.R.E. project, our accredited deck extends to all of the Green Initiative. Future sessions will cover how to green office infrastructure, reduce office emissions, prescribe nature and plant-rich diets, prevention and more.

Do you know that the pilot site will save $6850 on their energy bill over the 5-year lifespan of their LED lights? The good news is there is a program that may be able to help your site switch to LEDs for a subsidized cost or even for FREE! See if you are eligible and get in contact with the program here. Thank you to FHO Gardener aka green lead Dr. Darrel Juriansz for letting us know about this program! You can read more about LED Lights through our infographic here.

"Every breath is a sacrament, an affirmation of our connection with all other living things, a renewal of our link with our ancestors and a contribution to generations yet to come. Our breath is a part of life's breath, the ocean of air that envelops the earth."

- Dr. David Suzuki

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