Opportunities for Greening Health CareOpportunities for Greening Health Care and theand the

Environmental and Economic BenefitsEnvironmental and Economic Benefitsof the ACT-tex Ultra Micro Fibreof the ACT-tex Ultra Micro Fibre Revolutionary Cleaning SystemRevolutionary Cleaning System

Tony ScarlatoTony Scarlato

November 18, 2002November 18, 2002

Respect for Our Natural Environment

“The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and feed our children. So you must give the rivers the kindness you would give any brother….the air is precious to us…the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.”

Chief Seattle, 1854

Hospital Profile (as of March 2002)

Total Beds = 427

• 227 Acute Care Beds

• 84 Chronic (52) and Rehab (32) Beds

• 116 Long Term Care Beds

Annual Operating Budget

• $132 million

Growth in Weighted Cases

• highest year-over-year increase in the province in number of weighted cases

Hospital Activity in 2001/2002

• 62,508 Emergency Visits (increase of 6.5% from previous year)

• 86,897 Outpatient Visits

• 15,494 Inpatient Admissions

• 2,428 Births

• 1,417,893 Laboratory Tests

Current Staffing Compliment(as of September 2002)

• 1,775 Staff (1,266 FTE’s) with More

than 800 New Staff in the Last 2 Years

• Over 300 Affiliated Physicians

• More than 600 Adult and Student Volunteers

York Central Hospital Richmond Hill, Ontario in 2008

What is P2?Official Definition

“The use of processes, practices, materials, products, substances or energy that avoid or minimize the creation of pollutants and waste, and reduce the overall risk to the environment and human health.”

P2/Greening Opportunities in Health Care

• Think prevention and reduction• Reduce biomedical, chemical and liquid, laboratory,

pharmaceutical and hazardous wastes• Ensure proper handling and disposal of such wastes• Achieve cost savings by conserving raw materials,

reducing energy use, and biomedical and hazardous waste generation

• Establish “Win Win” Agreements and Partnerships with Suppliers and Service Providers

• ERP – Give preference to Vendors/Suppliers of Green/Biodegradable and Environmentally Sensitive Products, materials, services and activities.

P2 Benefits/Winning Opportunities

• Reduces costs, improves efficiency, reduces environmental impacts and reduces liabilities.

• Pollution Prevention Specific Benefits:– Enhanced/minimized regulatory compliance– Reduced liability insurance costs– Lower operational and maintenance costs– Lower risks to public, staff and the environment– Improved staff morale and productivity– Improved products and services

Water Pollution Prevention and the ACT Cleaning System from Sweden

Background

• Mid-March 1997 demo to Environmental Services staff, Occupational Health & Safety and Infection Prevention & Control

• Staff compared and evaluated traditional cleaning methods and techniques

• Summer of 1998 one of our Medicine Program Areas agreed to participate in the trial

• The new system put head-to-head with traditional one• First “bacteria audit” conducted during final two weeks of trial in

trial area• Latter half of 1998 and early 1999 a comprehensive staff

education and training program is carried out by FACT INC. staff• Supported by scientific evidence on efficacy, York Central

Hospital implemented ACT system on June 1, 1999

Water P2 and the ACT-tex Cleaning System

Benefits of this revolutionary cleaning system:• Lower operational costs• Lower risks to public, staff and the environment• Reduced liability insurance costs-job-related

injuries/exposure to chemicals• Improved staff morale and productivity-ergonomics• Improved products and services—happier staff

and super effective products• ACT-tex system products and tools simplified

cleaning procedures

The 4Es of A Remarkable Cleaning System

Ecological (or Environmentally Friendly)

• ACT “ is a complete, water-based cleaning concept.”ACT “ is a complete, water-based cleaning concept.”• All smooth and impervious surfaces in Hospital are cleaned without use All smooth and impervious surfaces in Hospital are cleaned without use

of cleaning chemicalsof cleaning chemicals• System successfully reduced cleaning chemical usage by more than System successfully reduced cleaning chemical usage by more than

70%70%• All products of system are re-usableAll products of system are re-usable• Significantly reduced thousands of gallons of effluent-conservative Significantly reduced thousands of gallons of effluent-conservative

estimation of 50 to 60 thousand gallons per year.estimation of 50 to 60 thousand gallons per year.• Translates to a reduction of about 330 thousand gallons over 5 years.Translates to a reduction of about 330 thousand gallons over 5 years.• Reducing municipal energy and resources required to treat Reducing municipal energy and resources required to treat

contaminated watercontaminated water• Overall, ACT system has a very positive impact on the environment.Overall, ACT system has a very positive impact on the environment.

The 4Es of a Revolutionary Cleaning System

Economical

• Act System saves York Central Hospital $17,000 to $20,000 annually (a reduction in cleaning chemical usage)

• System products last longer (with proper use can last over 5 years) than traditional cleaning products

• Water not wasted on inefficient cleaning techniques• Due to ease and efficiency of techniques, light ergonomically sound

cleaning tools of system, staff is 30 to 40 percent more productive• ACT system is healthier for patients and staff• Odours and chemical residue can cause minor to serious allergic

reactions• With use of ACT system, no odours or chemical residue thus a

marked reduction in allergy problems

The 4Es of a Revolutionary Cleaning System

Effective• ACT system effectively removes soil, dirt and microorganisms

• Unique cleaning power of ACT products due to fineness and shape of micro-fibres and fibre weave

• Traditional cleaning methods/techniques actually smear dirt/grime and chemical residue around

• They get surfaces only 70% clean; ACT methods get them 99% clean

• Fact-effective physical removal of dust/dirt from smooth and impervious environmental surfaces is best for minimizing risk of cross-contamination

• Proven by our repeated bacterial audits, ACT system dramatically reduces surface bacteria!

The 4Es of a Revolutionary Cleaning System

Ergonomic

• ACT system tools are light and ergonomically designed• They promote comfortable, safe and easy cleaning• Small spray bottles containing only water, combined with light

floor mops and hand tools, replace heavy mops and pails• Mops and hand tools easily adjust to staff members’ height• Lightweight, adjustable tools allow staff access to hard-to-

reach surfaces and fixtures with very little effort• Potential for repetitive strain injuries are minimized,

consequently reducing staff absenteeism• Ergonomic considerations make work safer, easier and more

pleasant

Opportunities for Greening Health Care and the Environmental and Economic Benefits of the ACT-tex Ultra Micro fibre Revolutionary Cleaning System

Conclusion

• Opportunities for Greening Health Care are found in the official definition of Pollution Prevention

• Its benefits are real and tangible

• P2 is a voluntary practical approach available to all who are committed to reducing our “environmental footprint”

• Our claims of being “environmentally friendly” must be supported by deliberate and decisive positive impact on our environment

Opportunities for Greening Health Care and the Environmental and Economic Benefits of the ACT-tex Ultra Micro Fibre Revolutionary Cleaning System

• Without such a deliberate and conscientious effort, sustainable development is not possible!

• Having most sophisticated system(s) in place for managing pollution after we have created it, is not only the least sensible thing to do but the most costly as well!

• We are very proud to be the first Hospital/Health Care Centre in North America to implement this revolutionary system.

• Our Environmental Services staff are equipped with tools and equipment that enable them to personally contribute to the conservation of our natural environment!

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