Like many businesses, medical practices use a lot of energy – but burning energy generates particulates that contribute to asthma and respiratory disease. Clinics and hospitals depend on a variety of materials that contain toxic substances like PVS and phthalates  – even though using and disposing of these substances puts patients at additional risk.  Healthcare facilities consume large quantities of paper and plastic, most of which deplete our natural resources and get thrown away after a single use.

These practices don’t only affect the environment or the patient. They impact your ability to run a profitable business, too. Wasting anything – from energy, to water, to paper, to supplies – wastes your hard-earned profits. When you take steps to “reduce, reuse and recycle,” you achieve triple benefits: you protect the planet, you safeguard people, and you strengthen your bottom line.

Five Ways to Green Your Healthcare Practice

1)     Choose the safest available materials and chemicals. Look for products that avoid mercury, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, phthalates and brominated flame retardants, all of which have been linked to serious disease in adults and children. In addition to offering your patient healthier options, you’ll make your money matter. By shifting your spending to the healthiest, “greenest” products on the market, you’ll increase the available supply and set an example other healthcare professionals can more easily follow.

2)     Minimize waste. According to Medhunters.com, American hospitals generate more than two million tons of waste each year, at a loss of tens of millions of dollars. Alternatives? Replace disposable surgical and patient gowns with reusable ones. Use a scanner to save documents and e-mail to electronically circulate files to avoid making excessive paper copies that ultimately get trashed. Recycle paper, plastic and glass rather than throw them away. Have staff use reusable mugs and water bottles rather than disposable cups.

3)     Separate medical from nonmedical waste, and explore alternatives to waste incineration. As much as 85% of medical waste is noninfectious, says Health Care Without Harm. It should not be mixed with dangerous medical waste, which is often incinerated and could release cancer-causing dioxin and other toxins into the atmosphere.  Alternatives to incineration may include autoclaving and irradiation.

4)     Clean with green products. According to the Environmental Protection Agency and other health and environmental monitors, indoor air can become polluted by cleaners, disinfectants and air fresheners that contain dangerous chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Common symptoms include allergies, irritation, asthma, and headaches. More extreme consequences range from “sick house syndrome” to cancer, birth defects, and neurological and reproductive disorders. Solutions? Use fragrance free products that are also certified green cleaners . Adopt the least toxic pest management strategies. Use alcohol-based gels rather than those containing antibacterial agents for routine hand washing.

5)      Save energy. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents. Plug computers, printers, fax machines and other office electronics into energy-saving power strips. Buy the most energy-efficient appliances to meet your needs. Purchase ‘green’ energy (generated by wind power or biomass) from your local utility. Telecommute, car pool, or use mass transit. Attend webinars and conference calls rather than go to meetings in person.

 For More Information:

Health Care Without Harm

Environmentally Friendly Purchasing Policies

Practice Green Health 

Green Guide for Health Care 

Environmentally Preferred Products list