Oral

Environmental impacts from the delivery of health care include carbon dioxide pollution from energy use, significant volumes of waste, and the use of products made with toxic chemicals. Health care leaders are poised to address these issues and a growing number of hospitals and health care organizations, non-profit organizations, architectural and engineering firms, academia, industry and governmental organizations are joining together to build a social movement to improve patient safety, workplace safety, and environmental safety and sustainability. Efforts within the health care industry to expand “green” efforts include the formal integration of environmental stewardship into the organization’s business strategy and operations, and the establishment of guiding principles, organizational operating commitments, and actions to improve the health of the communities served. Furthermore, due to the effect of the physical environment on health, the public health and medical community must play an active role in the land-use and development decisions made in their community. This panel will discuss environmental stewardship efforts of the health care industry; collaborative efforts to accelerate improvements in worker safety, patient safety and environmental sustainability within the health care sector; and, the link between the physical environment and health and well-being.

Session Objectives: Discuss the importance of expanding “green” efforts of the health care industry. Recognize the link between the health of the environment and the health of the people.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing