A Transition to
Sustainable
Practices
Using Practice Greenhealth
to Green Our Healthcare
Environment
The Challenge

The UC Sustainable Practices Policy
is geared to research/teaching
campuses, with only a bit of wiggle
for the unique attributes of medical
centers.



Waste and Water are but two
policy elements that lack
healthcare alignment
UCOP is high-centered on the
Carbon Neutrality Initiative
We are best served by a
sustainability process geared to the
healthcare environment.
What Is Practice Greenhealth?
 Nonprofit

membership organization
>1,000 hospital/health system members
 Current
form since 2008, from merger of
other organizations
 Completely focused on healthcare
sustainability


Positive environmental stewardship
Emphasis on member best practices
 Annual

“CleanMed” conference
In Minneapolis this week
Sustainability Commitments
and Plans
 “Many
facilities are using the Practice
Greenhealth Environmental Excellence
Awards as their primary baseline and gap
analysis tool.”(Practice Greenhealth website)
 The
use of Practice Greenhealth
sustainability guidelines will allow UCDH to
focus on healthcare-related activities.
Practice Greenhealth Awards
Aren’t New to UCDH(S)
 We
were awarded
“Partner for
Change” in 2012
and 2013
 The wheels came
off in 2014 due to
an excess of red
bag waste
Kaiser Permanente 2025
Pledge
 Become
“carbon net positive”
 All food will be “local” or from producers
who use sustainable practices
 Recycle/reuse/compost 100% of nonhazardous waste
 Reduce water use by 25% per SF of
buildings
 Increase purchase of products and
materials that meet enviro stds by 50%
UC Sustainable Practices &
Practice Greenhealth Awards
UC Sustainable Practices
Policy Element
PGH Award Category
Green Building Design
Green Design & Construction
Clean Energy
Leaner Energy
Climate Protection
Climate & Health
Sustainable Transportation
Climate/Alt Trans
Recycling/Waste Mgmt
Less Waste
Enviro Preferable Purchasing
Enviro Preferable Purchasing
Sustainable Food Services
Healthier Food
Sustainable Water Systems
Less Water
UC Policy Sustainable Building Operations: for campuses
Award Category:
Green Design & Construction
 Facilities
Design and Construction
UC: Green Building Design
Award Category:
Leaner Energy
 Plant

Operations and Maintenance
Perioperative Services
UC Policy: Clean Energy
Award Category:
Climate & Health
 Sustainability




Perioperative Services (waste anesthetic
gases)
Parking and Transportation (Alt Trans)
Fleet Services (Fuel Efficient Vehicles)
EH&S/Emerg Preparedness (Resilience)
UC Policy: Climate Protection, Sustainable Transportation
Award Category:
Less Waste
 Patient
Care Services (Red Bag Waste)
 Perioperative Services (Waste Diversion)
 EH&S (Hazardous Waste)
 EVS (General Waste Mgmt)
 Sustainability (Waste Diversion)
UC Policy: Recycling and Waste Management
Award Category:
Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing
 Supply
Chain Management
UC Policy: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Award Category:
Healthier Food
 Food
and Nutrition Services
UC Policy: Sustainable Foodservices
Award Category:
Less Water
 Plant
Operations & Maintenance
 Facilities Design & Construction
 Environmental Services


Patient Care Services (Hemodialysis)
Supply Chain Mgmt (WaterSense devices)
UC Policy: Sustainable Water Systems
Award Category:
Greening the OR
 Perioperative

Services
Plant Operations and Maintenance (OR
energy use)
UC Policy: Clean Energy; Recycling and Waste Management
Award Category: Chemicals
 EH&S
 Supply
Chain Mgmt (Purchasing Policies)
 EVS (Cleaning Agents)
 Facilities Planning (Furniture, Finishes)
 Infection Prevention (Disinfection Agents)
UC Policy: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Metrics Resource
Metrics Resource
Getting Started
 Participants
to establish a Practice
Greenhealth Account

Permits access to supporting materials
 Relevant
portions of the 2017 application
and Benchmark report will be distributed
 Application and Benchmark review

Where are we good, what needs some work,
where are we out of it
 Report
out at next SusComm meeting
 Prepare for the 2018 application season
What Do We Include?
 Main

Hospital
May have to get creative in some areas
 Perhaps
SDSC
 Some hospital support functions
Not Included:
 Clinics
(not in the first year)
 Laboratories (no award category)
 Most outlying functions/buildings
Practice Greenhealth Support
 Regular
information calls
 E-mail access to representatives
 Archived and real-time training, sharing
calls

See “Greenhealth Academy” on PGH site.
 Annual
“Sustainability Benchmark Report”
 PGH website holds much information
Now What?
Go Forth and Do!
I’ll meet with various groups to discuss details