facing climate change in the medical office: “the green doctor office program”
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Facing Climate Change in the Medical Office: “The Green Doctor Office Program”. Todd L Sack, MD, FACP Jacksonville, FL [email protected] www.mygreendoctor.org American Association of Public Health Physicians Chicago, IL June 2012. About the speaker…. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
FACING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE MEDICAL OFFICE: “THE GREEN DOCTOR OFFICE PROGRAM”
Todd L Sack, MD, FACPJacksonville, [email protected]
American Association of Public Health PhysiciansChicago, IL June 2012
ABOUT THE SPEAKER… Gastroenterologist in Jacksonville, FL Past Chair, Jacksonville
Environmental Protection Board Past Chair, Climate Change Advisory
Group for Florida Energy Commission Past Member, Florida Energy
Commission Chair, Environment & Health Section,
Florida Medical Association
FMA POLICY POSITIONS The Physician’s Responsibility for the
Environment and Health (2004) The Health Risks to Floridians of Lead
Toxicity (2004) Health Risks of Florida’s Coal-Burning
Power Plants (2005) Mercury Toxicity Poses a Significant
Preventable Health Risk to Floridians (2005) Climate Change & Human Health (2007)
FMA POLICY POSITIONS (CONT.)
Urban Development in Miami-Dade County & Everglades Protection (2007)
Incinerators & Risks to Human Health (2008) Safe Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (2009) Motor Vehicle Idling in Florida (2009) Informing Floridians of the Health Benefits of
Fish Consumption and Dangers of Mercury Toxicity (2011)
Informing Floridians about the Risks to Municipal Water Supplies & the Limitations of Bottled Water (2011)
www.fma.environmentandhealth.org
CLIMATE CHANGE & DOCTOR OFFICES
Millions of doctor offices worldwide We use significant resourcesDoctor offices are community role
modelsBillions of patient-hours spent in doctor offices annuallyPotential sites for improving public
health
DRAWBACKS OF MEDICAL OFFICES
Low awareness of our environmental impact
Low science education levelsLow environmental knowledge base Low leadership skillsLack of authority for new initiativesLack of time for new initiatives
FMA’S GREEN DOCTOR OFFICE PROGRAM: “SAVING MONEY, IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH”
CONCEPTS OF MYGREENDOCTOR.ORG
A free, web-based tool to teach doctor office employees how to form and manage their own office Green Teams
Offer simple, prescriptive Actions Steps that the Green Team can undertake to make changes in the office
No science background necessaryTools for teaching patients & communities
GOALS OF MYGREENDOCTOR.ORG
1. Increase the environmental knowledge of doctor office workers
2. Improve office use of resources3. Improve office working conditions4. Improve home resources use by
office staffs and patients5. Improve community environmental
quality & public health
:
WHY GO “GREEN” ? Save money by improving
operations Create a healthier work environment Improve office morale Retain employees and lower
absenteeism Improve public relations through
“Green Doctor Office Recognition” Improve patient & community health
WHAT IS THE “GREEN DOCTOR OFFICE PROGRAM”?
Located at www.mygreendoctor.orgAdministered by the Environment &
Health Section of the Florida Medical Association (Tallahassee, FL)
Launched April, 2010 on World Earth Day
Available free to other health professional organizations
SUITABLE FOR…
Any doctor office providing outpatient services or administrative functions
Medical, diagnostic or surgical centers, dental, psychologists, chiropractors, therapists, or administrative offices
Typically offices with 5-50 employees
WHAT VIEWERS WILL FIND AT WWW.MYGREENDOCTOR.ORG:
Registration Form“Quick Start Now!” Overview pages “Contact Us” 7 comprehensive workbooks Green Team Notes form Waiting room brochures
WHAT ELSE ? Program Summary Computer
Requirements Why Businesses Are
Going Green Role of Doctor
Offices in Community Health
Why the Green doctor Office Program
How it Works
Achieving Recognition
Building Your Green Team
Meeting Schedule Web Resources,
References, & Bibliography
Confidentiality & Responsibility
SEVEN WORKBOOKS OFFERING MORE THAN 120 ACTION STEPSAND EDUCATION STEPS:
Energy Efficiency
Renewable Energy
Water Efficiency Solid Waste &
Recycling
Drug Disposal & Chemicals
Transportation & Commuting
Healthy Foods
ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORKBOOK:
Introduction Background
Information Office
Assessment Action Steps Educational
Steps
Introduction:Energy efficiency is the cornerstone of the Green Doctor Office Program. This is where a doctor office can capture the greatest financial savings and make the strongest community impact.…
“OFFICE LIGHTING” ACTION STEPS
Change to CFL’s & LED’s Properly discard
fluorescent bulbs Install T-8/5
fixtures Turn off lights Use task lighting
Motion detectors Hire an energy
consultant Teaching in the
doctor office Education Steps
HOW TO GET STARTED…
Register at www.mygreendoctor.org (it’s free, no passwords required) Go to “Quick Start Now!” Get yourself “hooked” by reading the
Overview pages (10-15 minutes) Find an office Green Team Leader Schedule a luncheon Team meeting Order the first pizza
ACHIEVING GREEN DOCTOR OFFICE RECOGNITION
Required are 5 meetings, 5 Action Steps, & 5 Education Steps
Must demonstrate regular meetings and significant accomplishments
Reporting your progress is easy using the “Green Team Notes” form
Can be ready for recognition in 6 months Reviewed by FMA physicians
GDOP STATUS REPORT
Website launched April 2010 Registered 116 offices 38 Florida counties 17 US states, 3 countries 18,784 employees 6 offices awarded “Recognition” status
“RECOGNITION” SUCCESS STORY
Escambia County Health Department Five medical offices Pensacola, Florida 11 Green Team meetings 11 Action Steps reported Awarded “Recognition” January 2011
ESCAMBIA COUNTY HD: ACTION STEPS COMPLETED
Comprehensive recycling Double-sided copying Purchase recycled-content paper Scan all documents Policy to turn of lights at night Removed bulbs in multi-bulb lights
ESCAMBIA COUNTY HD: ACTION STEPS COMPLETED
Eliminated personal appliances Installed motions detectors Purchased a hybrid vehicle Discontinued hot water in all offices
ESCAMBIA COUNTY HD: SAVINGS
Saving energy every month 125,000 kilowatt hours electricity $14,000 saved annually 85,600 pounds CO2 per year Equivalent of 4,349 gallons gasoline
TIPS FOR GREEN TEAM SUCCESS Gain permission from management Find an office Team Leader Reward your Team Meet regularly (monthly) Choose small, steady improvementsFind an advocate for each Action Step Keep “Green Team Notes” Engage your entire office staff Inform your patients Aspire for “GDOP Recognition”
ASSESSMENT AFTER 2 YEARS
Doctor Office Green Teams are popular Build office cohesion, pride, & morale Realistic to save $2500 per office per year Requires a dedicated team leader No science background necessary Best with small, progressive changes Potential for improving the public health Requires real work to be successful Relatively few users so far
CURRENT DIRECTIONS
Increase awareness of the Program Partner with professional organizations Develop more educational materials Begin a website re-design Consider developing an “app” Improve metrics for analysis of outcomes
FACING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE MEDICAL OFFICE: “THE GREEN DOCTOR OFFICE PROGRAM”
Todd L Sack, MD, FACPJacksonville, [email protected]
American Association of Public Health PhysiciansChicago, IL June 2012