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Green Hospital Scorecard (GHS) Award Webinars
The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care will be hosting two webinars next week to announce our 2021 Green Hospital Scorecard (GHS) winners!
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Top Performers & Green Hospital of the Year Awards: Wednesday, September 21st, 2022 at 9am PT/12pm ET/1pm AT. Click HERE to register.
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Energy Efficiency & Energy Behaviour Awards: Thursday, September 22nd, 2022 at 9am PT/ 12pm ET/ 1pm AT. Click HERE to register.
*** A big thank you to SaveOnEnergy for sponsoring the Ontario Energy and Energy Behaviour Awards.
| IFHE 2022 is just around the corner! | |
Only 3 more days until the IFHE 2022 Congress | CHES 2022 National Conference in Toronto, ON.
Stop by and visit the Coalition booth in the Green Park (we might even share a chocolate or two with you).
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Climate conscious inhaler prescribing collaborative
This fall, CASCADES will be running the Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing Collaborative – a learning
opportunity based on an established spread model for Quality Improvement innovation.
Through three learning sessions (between September 2022 and March 2023) and regular check-ins,
participating teams from primary care settings across Canada will receive access to and training on a number of tools that can be used to facilitate deprescribing, switching, teaching technique, and proper
disposal.
The first learning session will be Friday, September 30th, 2022 at 1:00pm ET!
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Join Project Green Healthcare 2022
Project Green Healthcare/Projet Vert la Santé (PGH) is the first-of-its-kind national community of practice of medical student teams advancing low-carbon health care across Canada.
Learn more about greening health care, connect with like-minded peers, and win up to $1,000 for you and your team by applying today
Application deadline: October 1st, 2022
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Energy Management Support Services
Energy Management Support Services (EMSS), provides free professional energy management services to organisations in Ontario. EMSS provides organisations with coaching support to tackle energy and carbon management, workshops to grow technical knowledge, and facilitated sessions to implement best practices.
Service recipients also gain access to a province-wide network of energy managers as a resource pool, and courses on energy management via an online learning platform.
Services are not restricted to organisations receiving funding from Save on Energy’s Energy Manager program. Use this simple sign up form or email admin@energymanagerprogram.ca to register to receive services.
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Exhibit, promote, and connect with delegates and health leaders from around the world
Join the International Conference on Academic Medicine (ICAM) and receive the benefit of interacting with over 2000 of the brightest, most innovative physicians, learners, health researchers, health organisations and leaders spanning the globe.
Become an exhibitor and establish your organisation amongst the leaders of medical education and health research.
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Health leaders call for a national sustainable health unit
Hospital and Healthcare
More than 50 health leaders meeting at the Better Futures Forum have created an ambitious implementation plan to slash health-related carbon emissions, save money and improve patient care.
“Hospitals, surgeries and clinics use huge amounts of energy and produce mountains of waste each year. We can improve this right now by sourcing energy from renewable sources, electrifying transport fleets, expanding telehealth, decarbonising the supply chain and putting in place water and waste management strategies,” said the Sustainable Health Care Manager at the Climate and Health Alliance.
The health leaders are calling on the government to create a national Sustainable Health Care Unit in the Commonwealth Department of Health to guide the health sector towards environmentally sustainable, decarbonised operations.
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Warringal's woolly switch strengthens Ramsay's sustainability strategy
Ramsey Health Care
Warringal Private Hospital’s Day Oncology team has helped uncover an innovative new solution for medication packaging, helping to reduce the use of plastic and polystyrene across the Ramsay Health Care network.
In a bid to cut down on the high volume of bubble wrap, ice packs and plastics which are used to keep chemotherapy drugs safe and at the right temperature, the oncology team approached medical supplier Baxter Health Care to come up with a more sustainable solution.
Together with Ramsay Pharmacy, the collaboration came up with the idea of ditching the excessive plastic and implementing the award-winning Woolcool system - which is recyclable, sustainable and environmentally responsible.
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One health: A primer for environmental public health practice
National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health
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One Health works towards optimal health outcomes by recognizing, understanding, and managing the interconnection between people, animals, and their shared environment.
It is neither "human first," "animal first" nor "environment first," but all together. One Health proposes to transform health systems by mobilizing multiple sectors, disciplines, and communities to tackle some of our most challenging health crises.
This paper is the first in a series that focuses on One Health and its role in environmental public health practice.
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Planetary Health Menus
Nourish
Nourish is preparing to launch a new learning series called Planetary Health Menus, where they are accompanying 100 hospitals to work towards healthy, sustainable menus and procurement by 2026.
Planetary Health Menus is part of Nourish’s action learning series, which create learning-by-doing opportunities to introduce health care leaders and organisations to specific innovations.
It's time for hospital trays and cafeterias to not only fulfill nutritional requirements, but also include food that:
- reduces carbon
- is sourced sustainably
- is plant forward
- is culturally diverse
- reduces waste
- and of course, is delicious!
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Circular food solutions in Canada
The National Zero Waste Council
Canada’s agri-food industry is one of the country’s most important economic sectors and has generated about $143 billion towards Canada’s GDP. At the same time, the value of food lost or wasted every year in Canada is estimated to be worth $49 billion.
Much of this issue can be addressed by rethinking our food practices in ways that regenerate our natural resources and reduce food loss and waste.
This line of thinking—also known as the circular economy model —is gaining traction across the globe as a way of building a more sustainable economy.
The aim of this project was to identify, compile and present examples of food solutions that are contributing to making Canada’s food system more circular.
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Fire departments in Toronto, Greater Montreal embrace electric trucks for safety and performance
Electric Autonomy
As municipalities across Canada look to lower their transportation emissions, several local fire departments are taking the crucial first steps to transition some of their fire trucks to electric.
Recently, the Toronto Fire Services, Canada’s largest municipal fire department, announced that it has placed an order for two Vector fire pumper trucks from Spartan Emergency Response brand, a subsidiary of a U.S.-based vehicle manufacturer REV Group, Inc.
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The challenges and benefits of bringing Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) to Canada
Electric Autonomy
Reports show that human error is at blame for the majority of automobile accidents. But if cities could adopt new technologies like Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS), this problem may be resolved.
C-ITS is a smart, connected network that enables wireless communication between vehicles, infrastructure such as cameras and traffic lights and other road users. It has the potential to significantly increase the safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of road transportation.
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What's the real price tag of renewable energy for the planet?
The Guardian Adventure.com
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A new Stanford study calculated the cost of global renewable energy would be $62 trillion (yes, with a “t”). But the big upfront investment would create jobs, drastically reduce carbon emissions, and pay for itself in just six years.
Unless we significantly curb how much coal and gas we burn in the next few decades, scientists are pretty much in agreement that the consequences will keep getting more severe. One of the simplest ways to cut back greenhouse gas emissions is in how the electricity we use is generated. Even though the current system is dominated by coal, oil, and natural gas, the technology for producing energy from renewable sources like wind, hydro, and solar is effective, available, and increasingly economical.
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U.S. hospital could save $2.8 billion by maximizing use of reprocessed "single-use" devices
Association of Medical Device Reprocessors
At a time when hospitals are under unprecedented logistical and financial strain, a new industry-wide report illuminates the potential for saving money and reducing waste and emissions by extending the life of “single-use” medical devices through reprocessing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates the commercial reprocessing industry to assure that devices are as safe and effective as original devices.
The report was compiled from data collected from members of the Association of Medical Device Reprocessors (AMDR), the global trade association representing the interests of the professional medical device reprocessing industry.
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Perfect storm: High surface contamination and vulnerable patients
Healthcare Facilities Today
Hospital environmental services (EVS) departments do everything possible to create a safe, clean and disinfected patient care environment. Creating and maintaining that environment requires the right products, the right processes and an educated, trained, well-equipped environmental services technician with the right amount of time to do the tasks necessary.
To be truthful, the best efforts to prevent health care-associated infections are lost on patients and their companions. Their fear of the possibility of an infection might very well prevent them from seeking medical attention. While hospitalized, they observe the cleanliness of their room surroundings and the hand hygiene or lack thereof of their caregivers.
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Near real-time hourly weather data is now available directly within the latest version of RETScreen Software’s Performance Analysis module. As part of our ongoing collaboration with NASA, you can now download hourly weather data for the entire surface of the planet!
Click here to download RETScreen Expert
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EVENTS, TRAINING AND WEBINARS | |
International Conference on Academic Medicine (ICAM) | |
The International Conference on Academic Medicine (ICAM) is the first international gathering dedicated to academic medicine. It will be the place for the academic medicine community to meet, network, and develop new relationships and collaborations with colleagues from around the world.
ICAM will showcase innovation and scholarship in medical education and health research. Medical students, residents and graduate students will have the opportunity to present their work, network and connect with medical education and research mentors as well as prospective employers.
Attendee registration begins tomorrow September 16th, 2022!
Conference dates: April 13th - 18th, 2023
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Environmental co-benefits of reducing low-value care | |
The health care sector is a significant contributor to Canada’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. How might the everyday choices of clinicians play a role in fighting climate change? Can reducing overuse be part of the solution?
In September’s Choosing Wisely Talks, we’ll discuss the “co-benefits” of reducing low-value care and our environmental footprint. Experts will share perspectives on tackling climate change while delivering safe and quality care.
Dates: September 28th, 2022
Time: 12:00pm ET - 1:00pm ET
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Climate emergency: Taking action on planetary health
The annual Climate Emergency conference, hosted by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), is back this fall in virtual format. This year, the topics will be focused on taking action on planetary health.
This conference will be of interest to physicians, medical learners, nurses, and other health professionals.
Date: October 29th, 2022
Time: 7:45am - 4:15pm PST
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Learn how to get the most from your building recommissioning project
The Save on Energy team is hosting a free virtual webinar on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 to help building owners and operators who are considering undertaking existing building commissioning to identify the most important actions to save on energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions – and to ensure these savings persist over time.
Dates: October 27th-30th, 2022
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
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Nourish Food is Our Medicine learning circles
Nourish is launching learning circles for all participants of Food is Our Medicine. These circles will take place over three sessions in September, and will be an opportunity for you to connect with other learners, share your reflections, and ask questions with Nourish's Indigenous Program Manager, Mair Greenfield.
Register by clicking on the following dates:
Thursday, September 22 @12 noon - 1:00 PM ET
Thursday, September 29 @12 noon - 1:00 PM ET
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Sustainable opthamology: Eye care with a vision for climate-smart surgery
Recognizing the significant climate footprint of ocular care and surgery, along with the ways that climate change adversely impacts eye health, ophthalmologists are successfully advocating for climate-smart policies in their institutions, their industry, and beyond.
Come to this session and be inspired by ophthalmologists who are making a difference in the fight against climate change and leading the sustainable surgery movement.
Date: September 22nd, 2022
Time: 11:00am ET
REGISTER HERE
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RETScreen® is a Clean Energy Management Software system for energy efficiency, renewable energy and cogeneration project feasibility analysis as well as ongoing energy performance analysis.
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Have you registered as an organ donor?
Contact your local organ donation agency and speak to your family about your wishes. You have the power to save and transform lives.
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The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care is Canada’s premier green health care resource network, leading the evolution of green in Canada’s health sector as a national voice and catalyst for environmental change. www.greenhealthcare.ca | |
Some articles referred to in the Digest make reference to services and/or product offerings from specific suppliers. The CCGHC recommends that readers research the service and product offerings available through a wider range of suppliers for comparison purposes and in keeping with public sector purchasing guidelines. These articles should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any product or service. | | | | | |
