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Article - The low-carbon fruit tree for primary care
Primary care practitioners are optimally positioned to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by the health care system, which pose great risk to the health of people and the environment.
This narrative review discusses 19 initiatives that can be implemented into primary care practices to reduce GHG emissions and financial costs through decreasing highly intensive emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
The article also summarizes the time it may take for primary care practitioners to embed each of these initiatives into their care delivery. In addition, it demonstrates how best practice initiatives in primary care may show a higher GHG reduction than commonly conducted initiatives aimed at reducing GHGs.
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Training Event - RETScreen® Expert – A Comprehensive Energy & Carbon Management Tool
Learn how RETScreen®, a clean energy management software developed by the Government of Canada, supports energy and carbon reduction in facilities like hospitals and long-term care homes. This workshop introduces RETScreen’s Virtual Energy Analyzer, explores its latest features, and guides participants through real-world examples of energy, cost, and emissions savings.
This training event will be presented in English on May 30th at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET and in French on May 30th at 10:00am PT/1:00pm ET.
*Attend this event to gain access to a free 30-day RETScreen licence.
| | Visit us at CHES Ontario! | |
May 25-27, 2025 - Join friends and colleagues at the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society (CHES) Ontario Chapter’s annual conference at the Bingeman’s Conference Centre in Kitchener, Ontario.
Whether a health care delegate or vendor to health care, there's no better way to make an impact than to become an active advocate for education and professional growth!
Visit the Coalition booth and learn more about our many ongoing projects and collaborations.
Visit https://www.chesontario.com for more information. See you there.
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Building community to advance planetary health
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Dates: September 12th - December 5th, 2025
Taking Action on Planetary Health introduces learners to the emerging and transdisciplinary social movement of Planetary health and offers the opportunity for learners to develop and implement solutions that will allow humanity and the natural systems we depend on to thrive now and in the future.
Over the course of four synchronous interactive online modules and three asynchronous modules with guided independent group work, participants will explore key planetary health concepts and frameworks, collaborate with a diverse group of learners, and apply planetary health principles to a novel and practical planetary health intervention.
Our goal is to build community and capacity among health care professionals committed to planetary health promotion and action.
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2025 Summer Workshop - Decarbonizing existing facilities through energy efficiency, capital and asset planning and Industry partnership
Greening Health Care
Date: June 16th, 2025
Time: 8:30am - 4:00pm ET
Location: Cornell Community Centre | 3201 Bur Oak Ave, Markham, ON L6B 0T2
From commitment to real savings: Every hospital intends to be as energy efficient as possible and to contribute its share of greenhouse gas emissions and utility cost savings. But so many things get in the way.
Join us in person on June 16th for in-depth conversations with hospitals that have figured out ways to get energy efficiency improvements done. Hear case studies from our 2024 award winners. Learn how to quantify your savings potential, identify your biggest savings opportunities, and find the funding and resources needed to move up the energy performance rankings. Be part of making 2025 the year we get on track to meet emissions reduction targets.
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Summer heat waves and the medications that increase your risk
Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network
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For many Canadians, summer is synonymous with having fun in the sun. Unfortunately, over the past several years, extreme heat waves have become increasingly common. This not only makes summer less enjoyable but can affect your health. Heat and humidity can cause heat stroke, dehydration, dizziness and fainting, hospitalizations, and even death.
As you get older, it becomes harder for the body to adjust to changes in temperature. That’s why older adults are at greater risk during periods of extreme heat. Certain medical conditions more common in older adults, such as diabetes or Parkinson’s disease, can also make it harder for the body to adapt to heat
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Health and Biodiversity
Canadian Wildlife Federation
On Earth Day 2025 the Canadian Wildlife Federation hosted a four-part webinar series focusing on the intersections between biodiversity and critical global issues. Webinar records are now available on their YouTube channel, including Health and Biodiversity, where speakers explored the critical connections between biodiversity and human health.
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Environmental impacts of clinical practice: Reducing Unnecessary Care
The University of British Columbia
In this personal reflection, Dr. Ilona Hale explores the environmental consequences of unnecessary medical care, noting that up to 30% of tests and treatments may offer no patient benefit while contributing significantly to health care’s carbon footprint. She describes how this realization transformed her clinical practice, motivating her to focus on evidence-based care and shared decision-making. By reducing low-value interventions, Dr. Hale not only improved patient outcomes but also aligned her work with broader goals of environmental sustainability.
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Making it happen: Deprescribing Education Program
Optimizing Therapy Through Collaboration (OPTx)
This interprofessional deprescribing education program, launched in collaboration with the Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network, is for health care providers and students.
This program is aimed at nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physicians, and registered nurses working in primary care practice and students in nursing, medicine, and pharmacy. The project was funded through a grant from the Dalhousie Pharmacy Endowment Fund.
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A reusables first approach in health care
CASCADES
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“Reusables first” is a sustainable approach to procurement that prioritizes the purchase of reusable products and devices over single-use disposables whenever possible and clinically appropriate. Focusing on decarbonizing supply chains and adopting sustainable practices, such as prioritizing reusable products, can drive meaningful progress toward environmental sustainability and climate mitigation.
The Reusables First Approach to Healthcare playbook provides an overview of reusable opportunities in health care, implementation resources, and suggested strategies to adopt reusables at care sites. This playbook was developed in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
| | NEW! RETScreen® Expert Version 9.3 | |
The RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software Version 9.3 upgrades include a series of new energy efficient plus deep retrofit archetypes for the Virtual Energy Analyzer (VEA). In addition, key new capabilities have been added to the software to facilitate and automate the ongoing commissioning of facilities, and to help implement RETScreen as an Energy Management Information System (EMIS).
Version 9.3 of the RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software platform is now available for download from the RETScreen website.
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Creating a safe space for Indigenous patients in primary care
University of British Columbia
Date: June 18th, 2025
Time: 6:00pm PT/9:00pm ET
This webinar is for those who are on a learning journey looking for a culturally safe and collaborative way to increase cultural safety and visibility in their practice.
Through shared experiences and lessons from a panel of those who initiated change and the patients who experienced it, participants will leave with tangible actions as well as an increased understanding of how small actions, an open heart and an open mind contribute to more culturally safe space not only for Indigenous patients, but all patients.
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Pathways to a sustainable clinic: Part 3 - Community
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
Date: June 4th, 2025
Time: 9:30am PT/12:30pm ET
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has teamed up with the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS) to support a webinar series with Veterinary Sustainability Alliance (VSA).
In the final webinar of this series, participants will learn about efforts to advance veterinary sustainability within the wider community. The importance of supporting access to care, sharing stories, building a community, and connecting with nature will all be discussed.
Missed the first 3 parts of the series? Check them out on the VSA YouTube channel!
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Starting and scaling social prescribing
Canadian Nurses Association
Date: June 18th, 2025
Time: 9:00 am PT/ 12:00pm ET
Join the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing for their first session: Starting and Scaling Social Prescribing, where leaders and implementers from across Canada will share how they’ve launched, expanded, and explored sustainability of social prescribing in their communities. Learn more about the strengths they built on, the barriers they faced, and the strategies they used to keep momentum going—from early groundwork to working towards long-term integration.
Whether you're looking to get started or strengthen an existing initiative, this conversation will provide practical insights and lessons from the field to support your journey.
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Reusables first: Prioritizing reusables in Canadian health care settings
CASCADES
Date: June 5th, 2025
Time: 10:00am PT/1:00pm ET
Health care procurement has significant potential to mitigate health care’s impact on planetary health. By focusing on decarbonizing supply chains and adopting sustainable practices, the sector can drive meaningful progress toward environmental sustainability and climate mitigation.
On June 5th, join CASCADES to discuss opportunities and strategies for adopting reusables. You’ll hear health care professionals in with direct experience adopting reusables and implementing a reusables first approach in their BC and Ontario health care settings.
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8th Annual Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Western Canada
Canadian Institute
Dates: June 19th – 20th, 2025
The 8th Annual Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Western Canada, will be held in Vancouver, offering an opportunity to network with industry leaders and explore strategies for health care infrastructure design and construction.
Attendees will examine procurement models, learn about evolving standards, and meet with key decision-makers to stay at the forefront of cutting-edge health care facility delivery.
Register now to save 10% with promo code: D10-999-CCGHC25.
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2nd Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Atlantic Canada
Canadian Institute
Dates: July 14th - 15th, 2025
Seize the opportunity to connect with leaders in health care facilities planning, construction, design, and clinical operations at the Canadian Institute’s Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Atlantic Canada.
This essential event will provide critical insights into project delivery best practices, national and regional trends, and the status of major developments across Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Save 10% with the CCGHC promo code: D10-999-CCGHC25
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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. Learn more and register to donate HERE.
| | 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. | | | | |
