making medicine mercury free implementing a mercury-elimination plan mmmf award process
TRANSCRIPT
Making Medicine Mercury FreeMaking Medicine Mercury FreeImplementing a Mercury-Elimination Plan Implementing a Mercury-Elimination Plan MMMF Award ProcessMMMF Award Process
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Why Bother?Why Bother? AHA/EPA Goal to Eliminate Mercury in
health care. – Goal of 50 MMMF awards in next round!
Ethical responsibility/Mission Statement Environmental/Public Health Regulatory Compliance/Liability Safety Press coverage and awards Community Relations Patient/Employee satisfaction Potential Cost Savings
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Obstacles to Mercury EliminationObstacles to Mercury Elimination
Mercury is considered the Gold Standard
Clinicians are trained on mercury devices
Cost of replacements
Old habits
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Be like Mercury – Persistent!Be like Mercury – Persistent! Designate team leader Pilot – Start Small if
you need to Take a team approach
– include multiple departments
Check with your GPO – We’re driving markets!
Educate
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Environmental/Health ImpactEnvironmental/Health Impact
Medical waste incinerators are major source of mercury
AHA-EPA Memorandum of Understanding - 1998
FDA and state fish consumption advisories New York Academy of Sciences Report National Resource Council (NRC) Report AMA, ANA, APHA resolutions
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Clinical SourcesClinical Sources
Sphygmomanometers Thermometers Barometers Bougies, cantor tubes Pharmaceutical Preservatives
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Facilities ManagementFacilities Management
Light Bulbs
Switches
Thermostats
Batteries, electronics
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But First…Manage what you have!But First…Manage what you have!
Education Segregation Labeling Spill Response Monitoring Removal Record keeping
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Shut the Door to MercuryShut the Door to Mercury Identify mercury-containing products
purchased for your facility Prioritize items – Major source is
sphygmomanometers and cantor tubes. Identify/pilot alternatives to mercury-
containing products Develop a policy for mercury elimination
plan Educate department heads and purchasing
agents Monitor and track. Newsletters, education
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H2E National AwardsH2E National Awards Making Medicine Mercury Free Partners for Change Partner Recognition Environmental Leadership Award Champion for Change Internal Awards Process
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MMMF Award FactsMMMF Award Facts
You have to be an H2E partner. You can apply any time during the
year. This is a one-time award. You don’t have to be 100% mercury
free to be eligible. H2E can walk you through the
process. H2E will inform you in 30-60 days.
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MMMF Award ApplicationMMMF Award Application
Click on MMMF form and save as a file. http://www.h2e-online.org/pubs/awards/MmmfForm60.doc.
Click on Annual Summary & Goals Form and save as filewww.h2e-online.org/programs/partner/p_goals.dot
Provide back-up documentation Send in via email wherever possible and
send in mail back-up information. Contact H2E for more information.
1/800-727-2179 or [email protected]
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Facility Information (S&G form)Facility Information (S&G form)
Section 2: Adjusted Patient Days per month
Number of beds
# of Outpatient Visits for Amb. Sites
Long-term Care - # of bedsAdjusted patient days = TTL patient days X (TTL Patient Revenue (Inpatient + outpatient)/Inpatient Revenue # of beds = # of staff beds.
Admitting or finance will have this data
Section 3: Facility Waste Assessment Summary
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Facility Waste Assessment Summary Facility Waste Assessment Summary (S&G Form)(S&G Form) Section 4: Mercury Assessment Section 5: Environmental Policies
Questions regarding formal policies on environmental commitment and environmentally preferable purchasing.
For information on how to evaluate mercury use and implement activities to eliminate mercury from your facility’s waste stream, download the H2E self-Assessment Guide at www.h2e-online.org. See Sections 5A and B in the guide.
Setting new H2E goals.
H2E goals – Finishing off last bits of mercury
Set new goals that may not be related to mercury work.
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MMMF Award ApplicationMMMF Award Application
Award Application Check List
1. Mercury Elimination Policies
2. Mercury Management Policy
3. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
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MMMF Application – Clinical DevicesMMMF Application – Clinical Devices
Replaced Thermometers Replaced at least 75%
sphygmomanometers Replaced at least 75% clinical
devices
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MMMF Award Application - FacilitiesMMMF Award Application - Facilities
Recycle Bulbs Battery Collection Inventoried and
labeled mercury-containing devices and plan to replace.
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MMMA Application - LabsMMMA Application - Labs
Replaced B5/Zenkers stains Inventoried mercury-containing lab
chemicals with plan to substitute. Inventoried thermometers, replaced
at least 75% and phase-out plan in place
Other chemicals – Pharmacy, dental, cleaning chemicals
Other projects
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MMMF Award Check-ListMMMF Award Check-List
Partner of H2E Annual Summary and Goals Form MMMF Award Application No outstanding OSHA violations 3 copies of everything Back up/Supporting information Email and send in regular mail
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H2E Resources/GuidanceH2E Resources/GuidanceAwards Process: www.h2e-online.org/programs/award/index2004.htmMercury Recyclers – www.h2e-online.org/tools/hg-recy.htm
Consultants – www.h2e-online.org/tools/consult.cfmVendors – www.h2e-online.org/tools/vendors.cfmMercury Backgrounder – www.h2e-online.org/tools/mercury.htmList serve: www.h2e-online.org/programs/list.htmUniversal Waste Guidelines – www.h2e-online.org/tools/univwaste.htm10 steps to bulb recycling – www.h2e-online.org/tools/univwaste.htm#fluMercury Elimination Plan – www.h2e-online.org/pubs/mercurywaste.pdfFish Advisories – www.h2e-online.org/tools/merc-oth.htm#fish
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Other Mercury ResourcesOther Mercury Resources Massachusetts Academic & Scientific Community
Organization – www.masco.org U.S. Food & Drug Administration -
www.cfsan.fda.gov Health Care Without Harm’s Fast Facts -
http://www.noharm.org/library/docs/Going_Green_The_Mercury_Problem_-_Fast_Facts.pdf HCWH Making Medicine Mercury Free Resource Guide -
http://www.noharm.org/library/docs/Going_Green_Making_Medicine_Mercury_Free.pdf Measuring Blood Pressure Accurately –
http://www.noharm.org/mercury/sphygmo American Medical Association – www.ama-assn.org
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Need Help?Need Help? Hospitals for a Healthy
Environment www.h2e-online.org800/727-4179
Partner Coordinator [email protected] 212/941-2486
Champion Coordinator –[email protected]/479-0317
State Program Coordinator
[email protected]/234-0091
Director
[email protected]/643-6700