Closing Remarks

Christine Malcolm, Kaiser Permanente
Sustainability – not the main priority for the very top decisionmakers (yet).
Thanks for all being done, but more needs to be done.
If we don’t do it, it won’t get done.
We need to reach out to out bosses and boards, and create links between this conference and the efforts of all healthcare leaders.
Current [...]

Concurrent Panels

Panel discussions are underway focusing on these topics:
E1. Defining the 21st Century Hospital
E2. Industrialized Food Systems and Public Health
E3. Construction and Demolition Recycling Successes
E4. Growing Wealth, Growing Health
E5. Energy Purchasing:  Clean and Green Energy Procurement
Feel free to start a separate thread on one of these, or contribute comments below.

Concurrent Panels

Panel discussions are underway focusing on these topics:
D1. Transitioning Away From PVC to safer Alternatives
D2. Human Health Impacts of Intensive Animal Agriculture
D3. Working Together for Sustainability
D4. Pharmaceutical Management Models
D5. Climate Change 401:  Ecological Footprint
Feel free to start a separate thread on one of these, or contribute comments below.

Concurrent Panels

Panel discussions are underway focusing on these topics:
C1.  Improving Energy Effectiveness in Health Care
C2. There’s Gotta Be A Better way:  Participatory Workshop on Reducing the Use of Toxic and Untested Chemicals in Products
C3. Engagement:  The Key to Environmental Responsibility
C4. Reducing Chemical Exposure Through Purchasing:  Case Studies in Green Cleaners and Integrated Pest management
C5. Regulated Medical [...]

Concurrent Panels

Panel discussions are underway focusing on these topics:
B1. Raising Awareness about Exposures and Advocacy
B2. Greening the Red Bag – Single Use Device Reprocessing and Success
B3. Define and Conquer – Accomplishing Green Healthcare Projects
B4. Greening the NICU and Beyond – Pediatric Hospitals Highlight Green Advances
B5. Innovations in Sustainable Healthcare Food Service – Case Studies
Feel free to [...]

David Orr Keynote

Keynote by David Orr, Ph.D. on global climate instability.  We have, at best, ten years to reverse the CO2 emissions trend.  We will have trauma, which cannot be avoided anymore, but catastrophe still can be avoided.
We spent 99% of our national security budget on military issues, but global climate issues also are national security issues.
This [...]

Teresa Heinz – opening plenary

Gary Cohen opened the conference by welcoming participants and introducing Teresa Heinz.
Gary reminded us that, “This confernce is not a spectator sport.  We have a lot of work to do.  We are midwives for a global movement to promote environmental health.”
Teresa Heinz has been a longtime promoter of environmental health, women’s health, and sustainable healthcare-related [...]

Liveblogging Welcome!

One exciting aspect of blogging is that you can share your thoughts with others immediately.  Over the next two days, feel free to share your thoughts about CleanMed activities before, during and after your sessions. 
We will create open threads for those who want to blog about the sessions scheduled for today.  Facilitators and participants then [...]

Thinking Back to Past Conferences

Today is a travel day for those living outside the Pittsburgh area, with CleanMed participants coming by train, plane and car.
For those of you who have been to earlier conferences, what are some of the highlights for you? What were some of the lessons that you were able to incorporate into your everyday work?
For [...]

Welcome to CleanMed!

To the many who have joined us before, you know that CleanMed is an annual global conference on environmentally sustainable health care. To those of you who are first-timers at CleanMed or who will be joining us online, welcome!
CleanMed 2008 will be held at the Pittsburgh Hilton in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from May 20 to 22. [...]