Going Green in Your Healthcare Facility
In today’s world where the environment is a top priority, every aspect of our society can
contribute to the “green” movement. Healthcare professionals are among those paying
more attention to the environmental impact of their operations.
Manufacturers, suppliers and healthcare facilities should look to implement
environmentally friendly operational procedures and purchasing programs throughout
their organizations. Not only will they achieve safer working environments and a more
positive public image, but they can also see substantial financial savings.
According to the EPA, the healthcare industry spent about $8.4 billion on energy in
2006. Of existing infrastructure, the EPA reports that hospitals can improve their energy
efficiency by as much as 30 percent, so in that sense only, it is imperative that
healthcare organizations implement conservation and environmentally efficient
processes.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) is the act of purchasing/services whose
environmental impacts have been considered and found to be less damaging to the
environment and human health when compared to competing products/services.
Selecting environmentally friendly goods and services allows hospitals and healthcare
facilities the opportunity to reduce costs and improve margins due to lower overhead
costs, and avoid waste disposal, liability or occupational costs. It also significantly
improves the impact on environmental quality and provides a healthier environment for
an organization’s community, patients and staff.
Recognizing the importance of “greening” the healthcare supply chain, Amerinet has
instituted a “GreenCare Initiative.” The company has taken the lead in providing EPP
educational resources to staff and members and supporting EPP through continual
reviews of the Amerinet portfolio for opportunities to enhance environmentally friendly
product coverage to its membership. Amerinet is currently offering more than 66,000
green purchasing options. Green alternatives are available in virtually all product and
service areas, with environmentally friendly advantages including energy efficiency,
waste reduction, mercury alternative and recycling, package efficiency, greener cleaners
and recyclable or compostable products.
We support our members in a variety of areas by offering supply side procurement
strategies, demand side conservation efforts and energy efficient product procurement.
If organizations haven’t already done so, they should establish an EPP team at their
facility from a broad spectrum of disciplines. First, the team should seek to identify
environmental goals and determine which goals can be met via purchasing efforts. This
should include prioritizing by products, services, contracts and materials. They can then
examine resources, starting with existing partners and vendors, that can help them buy
greener.
After procuring the necessary information, including preferred products and vendors,
the team should evaluate how effectively each alternative would work in their facility
and prioritize alternatives.
After formulating the proposed alternatives, the facility should conduct a pilot test
before implementing any approach on a more permanent basis.
To ensure success, all implemented plans must be monitored, documented and
continuously evaluated. With requirements and technologies changing at a rapid pace,
flexibility to adapt, respond and refine will be an important component of your EPP
process.
Identifying and creating strategies to advance green initiatives will remain an important
aspect of operations for the healthcare industry. By implementing environmental goals
including EPP, your facility can make healthcare delivery safer for patients and the
communities you serve.
To learn more about how Amerinet can help you with an EPP program, call
1-877-711-5600.