Practice Greenhealth Academy: CleanMed 2022

Opening plenary | Healing communities: Heroes in health and equity

The climate crisis not only disproportionately impacts people of color, people experiencing poverty, and other people historically marginalized, it also multiplies and exacerbates the racial and health inequities people are already suffering from. The health care sector is responding to this challenge, to integrate racial and health equity work with their climate justice and resilience initiatives. Health systems are partnering with their communities, learning to leverage their assets and power as anchor institutions, collaborating to create community health and climate resilience. This opening session will explore these powerful themes with a number of speakers who are doing the work of healing America’s communities. You must register to access.

Integrating equity & community into food purchasing

Health care and community organizations are developing innovative strategies and partnerships to address racial inequities in our food system and move beyond the status quo. Hospitals who have been purchasing locally and sustainably produced foods have added to those efforts by seeking out and working with food and farm businesses owned by people of color to build equitable food purchasing programs. They are collaborating with community organizations and local producers to integrate racial equity and vendor diversity goals into their food service purchasing and supporting grassroots efforts to build community health and wealth. Learn about work happening in Michigan and New Mexico to promote community health and resilience. Hear one Michigan hospital’s journey to bring equity and diversity principles into their food purchasing. Get inspired by an initiative where New Mexico community leaders and health care partnered to build health and economic well-being. Benefit from their lessons, practical tools, and tips. Discover strategies for partnering with community-led initiatives and incorporating equity into your local and sustainable food purchasing practices. You must register to access.

Investing in communities through sustainable procurement

Every day, health care organizations make choices about the products and services they use, from medications, food, and hospital supplies, to the energy source used for lighting and powering operating rooms. Our collective purchasing power can shape the marketplace, increase demand for sustainable products, and embrace our broader healing mission. A panel of hospital representatives explain the vast potential for community investment through community-based activity, sustainability, and supply chain practices. Speakers share how the Impact Purchasing Commitment is providing a valuable vehicle to engage their own leadership and collectively catalyze change in the broader marketplace. Learn the power and potential of hospital procurement to shape marketplaces and heal communities. Discover how to integrate sustainable and ethical values into purchasing practices. Hear how an innovative purchasing vehicle is helping hospitals engage leadership and leverage their shared purchasing power. You must register to access.

Plenary | National momentum for health sector transformation

There is unprecedented national momentum for the health sector to decarbonize its operations and prepare its facilities and communities for climate impacts. Under the Biden administration, the United States has committed to reducing its climate footprint by 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050 and has joined the COP26 Health Programme with 50 other countries, pledging to build a climate-resilient and low-carbon health care system. The nation’s 1,700 federal health facilities will help lead the way toward decarbonization in accordance with an executive order calling on federal facilities to align with the nation’s climate action goals. This leadership will support broader health sector decarbonization and resilience and send important market signals to the supply chain. During this plenary panel, Health Care Without Harm founder Gary Cohen will moderate a discussion with leading experts including a representative from the Biden administration about current national initiatives and opportunities for the health care sector to reduce emissions, increase resilience, and address systemic inequities. Come learn about this transformative moment and what to expect over the next few years as health care steps up to address the climate crisis. Learn about the Biden administration commitments driving the transformation to climate-smart health care. Hear from Biden administration officials on their work to build a low-carbon, more resilient, and more equitable health care system. Understand the urgency and opportunities for health care sector climate solutions. Learn how leading health systems are implementing climate solutions and supporting the administration’s efforts. You must register to access.

Addressing health disparities through climate action

Social, environmental, and health conditions are intimately interconnected. Hospitals are uncovering that communities they serve with greater health disparities have higher health care costs and greater challenges weathering climate and health emergencies. Discover new research on how income, education, race, ethnicity, age, and ZIP code are placing individuals at greater health risk when faced with extreme temperature, air quality, or weather-related disasters. Presenters share how this research informs how hospital leadership conducts emergency management and designs care. One health system shares how they have engaged departmental leads from community benefit, sustainability, and beyond to approach their climate action planning from a holistic, whole system approach. Realize the value of connecting sustainability and community health at your institution. Understand new research that makes the case to leadership for climate action. Learn about a unique, cross-organizational approach to address climate and health. You must register to access.

Decarbonization: Commitment, action, & impact

Health systems throughout the country are setting ambitious climate commitments to advance their healing mission in the communities they serve. Setting a bold climate goal is important and challenging, but the true impact comes from achieving these goals. Hear from leading health care systems that are turning their goals into concrete strategic plans and meaningful action. Learn how health care systems are setting priorities, getting buy-in from leadership and other stakeholders, engaging policymakers, working with suppliers, partnering with communities, empowering practitioners to raise their voices, and most importantly getting results. Hear from leading health care systems on how to: Set bold climate and decarbonization goals Get buy-in from leadership and other stakeholders Turn your plans into impactful actions in your facilities, supply chain work, policy advocacy, and community engagement programs You must register to access.

Investing in communities through sustainable procurement

Every day, health care organizations make choices about the products and services they use, from medications, food, and hospital supplies, to the energy source used for lighting and powering operating rooms. Our collective purchasing power can shape the marketplace, increase demand for sustainable products, and embrace our broader healing mission. A panel of hospital representatives explain the vast potential for community investment through community-based activity, sustainability, and supply chain practices. Speakers share how the Impact Purchasing Commitment is providing a valuable vehicle to engage their own leadership and collectively catalyze change in the broader marketplace. Learn the power and potential of hospital procurement to shape marketplaces and heal communities. Discover how to integrate sustainable and ethical values into purchasing practices. Hear how an innovative purchasing vehicle is helping hospitals engage leadership and leverage their shared purchasing power. You must register to access.

Nitrous oxide: Climate-smart anesthesia 201

Nitrous oxide is a well-known and often significant source of Scope 1 emissions in health care. Understanding the impacts of clinical use can be challenging, but new research is shedding light on this important issue. Explore the historical context for the use and delivery of nitrous oxide and emissions assessment and mitigation strategies. Learn about the efficiency of various nitrous oxide delivery systems, including one approach with near 100% clinical efficiency – no waste. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these systems and hear recommendations on best practices and next steps to mitigate these potent greenhouse gases. Understand the use, delivery, and climate impact of nitrous oxide in health care. Learn how to obtain data and assess nitrous oxide usage in a health care facility. Discuss clinical and facilities-driven strategies to reduce wastage of nitrous oxide and best practices for mitigation. You must register to access.

Cooking up climate action

About 30% of total global greenhouse gases come from food. Livestock emissions alone account for more than 14%, and food waste accounts for 8%. Food strategies are essential to achieve net-zero emissions at hospitals and global climate targets. Learn how two hospitals have reduced their carbon footprint through food service strategies. Chef Jon Polley from UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital shares how his seasonal, plant-forward menus have increased sales and reduced his facility’s Scope 3 emissions. Mayo Clinic shares how plant-forward menus and “root to stem” cooking are strategies to increase convenience and encourage healthy food choices, while reducing their hospital’s climate impact through reduced animal products and food waste. Learn the secret recipe to reduce climate impact through delicious food. Hear how “root-to-stem” cooking is a hit with diners and the climate. Discover how plant-forward menus are accomplishing multiple goals. Understand why food is essential for meeting climate targets. You must register to access.

Closing plenary | Leading through change: Perspectives from women health care leaders

Leaders from health care, businesses, organizations, and communities are responding to the colliding challenges of the pandemic, racial inequities, and climate change and charting new ways of working together. This requires innovative thinking, transparency, intellectual and human capital, and a respect for local values and cultures. Join us for a “fireside chat” with a panel of women leaders who sit in different roles in the health care sector, who will share their personal and organizational perspectives on environmental sustainability and their goals for a healthier planet for people, communities, and the planet. You must register to access.

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Practice Greenhealth Academy

CleanMed 2022

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