Mantra Scrubs

In order to be included in the Medical Service’s Medical Aids Directory, bandages and orthotic pads must comply, among other things, with minimum requirements for the physiological comfort of the wearer. The same applies to compression stockings and other medical textile products which are to display the “Physiological comfort mark” and the quality label issued by the Hohenstein Institute in Bönnigheim.

The critical factors for physiological comfort (i.e. the microclimate between the skin and the textile) are mainly the thermal insulation properties of the materials used and their ability to transport perspiration. When the product is in use, these two properties are often greatly affected by the material stretching as the body moves. This is why, in future, before testing the physiological comfort of bandages or compression stockings, the Hohenstein Institute will first calculate the actual (practical) stretching to which the article is subjected in use.

The same measuring process is used as when the compression characteristics (pressure and pressure patterns) are worked out in order to attain and retain approval for the Medical Aids Directory, in accordance with the RAL Quality Certification Mark 387 (RAL-GZ 387). During subsequent measuring of resistance to heat and water vapor permeability, in order to calculate the thermal insulation and breathability characteristics, the materials are subjected to that degree of stretching. This means that regardless of the type of fiber or the structure of the fabric, the test results are comparable and reproducible at any time, and these contribute to the physiological comfort mark of from 1 (very good) to 4 (adequate).

See story http://specialtyfabricsreview.com/articles/050411_bandage_comfort.html

This entry was posted on May 5, 2011 at 1:36 PM and has received 701 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced current top 50 list of the country's leading purchasers of "green" power – solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and small-scale hydroelectric. The listing is compiled from members of the EPA’s Green Power Partnership, which works with a variety of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to local, state and federal governments, and a growing number of colleges and universities.

“We are delighted to see these Practice Greenhealth member companies identified by the EPA for their dedication to reducing their environmental impact”

These rankings, which are updated on a quarterly schedule, include three Practice Greenhealth member companies: Johnson & Johnson (at #7), BD (at #19), and Kimberly Clark (at #22).

These green power purchases help reduce the environmental impacts of electricity use and support the development of new renewable generation capacity nationwide. Purchase amounts reflect U.S. operations only and are sourced from U.S.-based green power resources. Organizations can meet EPA purchase requirements using any combination of three different product options: (1) Renewable Energy Certificates, (2) on-site generation, and (3) utility green power products.

“We are delighted to see these Practice Greenhealth member companies identified by the EPA for their dedication to reducing their environmental impact,” said Anna Gilmore Hall, Executive Director of Practice Greenhealth. “Their accomplishments exemplify those of our business members, who are committed to the highest standards of sustainability in product development, manufacturing, distribution, and life-cycle. A manufacturer’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility is driving a growing number of purchasing decisions within healthcare.”

About Practice Greenhealth

Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Members include hospitals, healthcare systems, businesses and other stakeholders engaged in the greening of healthcare to improve the health of patients, staff and the environment. For more information on Practice Greenhealth, visit www.practicegreenhealth.org

Contacts

Practice Greenhealth
Mary Lisi, 888-379-6664
mlisi@practicegreenhealth.org

See story http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110505006108/en/Practice-Greenhealth-members-named-%E2%80%9Cgreen%E2%80%9D-power-purchasing

This entry was posted on May 5, 2011 at 1:23 PM and has received 565 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

By Stephanie Rogers

Environmental cleaning for hospitals

Although most hospitals have made strong efforts to control the spread of the disease, transmission of drug-resistant bacteria is still common and associated with severe health risks.

(iStock)

The bacteria can infect patients in hospitals when they enter the body through a cut, sore, catheter or breathing tube. Patients with weak immune systems are particularly at risk. Another drug-resistant infection, vancomycin-resistant enterococci(VRE), is less common but can also be fatal.

• Environmental services staff at the hospital are educated on the importance of repeated bucket immersion while cleaning.
• Rather than applying disinfectant directly to cleaning cloths, hospital cleaning staff are instructed to immerse the cloths in a bucket of disinfectant.
• Third, the effectiveness of the staff's cleaning routines is tested using black-light markers.

Green cleaning expert Stephen Ashkin of The Ashkin Group, a consulting firm that specializes in helping contractors and building owners “green” the cleaning process, recommends choosing a standard EPA-approved disinfectant (PDF) in a more concentrated formula to reduce packaging. He also notes that some of these disinfectants have lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making them less harmful to the environment and human health.

See story http://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/stories/environmental-cleaning-for-hospitals

This entry was posted on May 5, 2011 at 1:21 PM and has received 1087 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Green only hospital in San Diego County to make Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals List

San Diego – Scripps Green Hospital has been named one of the nation’s top teaching hospitals. It was the only hospital in San Diego County to make the 100 Top Hospitals list compiled by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. This is the fourth time Scripps Green has been on the list.

Earlier this week, Scripps Green Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and Scripps Mercy Hospital were recognized for high performance in 11 specialties in the inaugural edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals metro area rankings. These recognitions were in addition to the national ranking for heart and heart surgery for Scripps Green and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla by U.S. News & World Report for 2010-11, which was announced in July 2010.

Scripps Green Hospital has served the La Jolla and greater San Diego communities with distinction since 1977, offering a variety of medical “firsts” – including San Diego’s first liver transplant program and one of the nation’s first hospitals to provide stem cell transplants. In 2009, the Graduate Medical Education Program, a partnership between Scripps Green Hospital and Scripps Clinic, received a five-year accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

“Our graduate medical education program is based on a solid foundation of patient-focused care and research,” said Robin Brown, chief executive at Scripps Green Hospital. “This prestigious distinction underscores that commitment to excellence and serving the health care needs of San Diego.”

The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® study evaluates performance in 10 areas: mortality; medical complications; patient safety; average patient stay; expenses; profitability; patient satisfaction; adherence to clinical standards of care; post-discharge mortality; and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure and pneumonia.

To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Thomson Reuters researchers evaluated 2,914 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals. They used public information – Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare Web site.

“This year’s 100 Top Hospitals award winners have delivered exemplary results, despite volatility from healthcare reform,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president at Thomson Reuters. “The leadership teams at these organizations have dealt with enormous ambiguity, yet remained focused on mission and excellence across the hospital which drove national benchmarks to new highs.”

More information on the study and other 100 Top Hospitals research is available at www.100tophospitals.com.

Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit health system in San Diego, Calif.

See story http://www.scripps.org/news_items/3884-scripps-green-hospital-ranks-among-nations-top-teaching-hospitals

This entry was posted on May 5, 2011 at 1:18 PM and has received 832 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

      Although the Romeo Bullldogs are red and white, they don't turn a blind eye to green practices.

       Romeo High School, thanks to the Students Enriching Romeo through Volunteer Experience (SERVE) program, has achieved the top ranking as a Michigan Green School for 2010-11.
       The Michigan Green Schools Program, which is now in its third academic year, was started by a group of students at Hartland High School. The program allows counties to award the green status to schools that meet between 10 to 20 requirements.
       The minimum is the "green" status by achieving 10 requirements, but schools can aim higher by meeting 15 for "emerald" and the maximum of 20 for "evergreen."
       Kelly Carson, SERVE coordinator, worked on the application on behalf of the school. She said she originally applied for the green status, so she was surprised to find out that the school had achieved the top status of evergreen.
       "I thought I applied for the minimum status because I turned in what I thought was 12 points, but apparently they picked it apart and found enough to give us the highest status," she said.
       A total of 105 schools submitted applications by the March 1 deadline this year, with 101 achieving the official green school status. Of them, 32 earned the emerald status while 36 earned evergreen.
       Each school's achievements were honored during a ceremony held April 11 at the Macomb Intermediate School District. A flag and a patch displaying the school's status were given to the school.
       "The board is pleased to see this program grow each year," said Macomb County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Kathy Vosburg.
       Carson said the initial step in applying was to start a paper recycling program, where a large bin in the parking lot is designated for collecting papers. She said since it began in September the students have enjoyed participating.
       "The SERVE kids have, on an average about every two weeks, been collecting the recycling from around the school and taking it out to the bin," she said.
       The other popular initiative was cleaning the school's courtyard, where students are planting native Michigan plants as a garden project. She said once the weather becomes warmer the project will resume.
       "They were very excited to be able to work in the courtyard," she said. "I was just really surprised how many signed up."
       The solar panel program at the Romeo Engineering and Technology Center was also hilighted in the application.
       "Whatever kinds of projects they do with that program, we're going to be able to use for our green school status," she said.
       Other aspects of the school's application include re-using magazines and newspapers, recycling ink cartridge and cell phones and a visitation from a Cranbrook Institute of Science representative.
       The school even adopted a sea turtle, named "Bimini," as part of a program to help endangered species. Carson said money was deposited in six different cans representing six different species. The one with the most money was the one that was adopted.
       Future projects that are under development include plastic bottle recycling and others that could help produce energy savings.
       "We're off to a good start, but there is so much more we can do," she said. "We have the highest status, but we need to maintain it."
       The plan is to not only keep the high school going with its status, but to have other schools in the district follow the practices and apply for the status, said Carson, so that all students recognize the importance of being green.
       "We encourage (students) to carry the spirit of recycling and energy conservation into their own homes and their futures," she said. "It's definitely something that has to be done."
       Carter Middle School in Warren was named the top school in Macomb County for this year's program.

See story http://www.romeoobserver.com/story.asp?storyid=19479

This entry was posted on May 4, 2011 at 5:27 PM and has received 470 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Michael Laing and Tess of PDSA in Sunderland who have won an award for green energy.

HOT dogs are helping slash heating bills at an animal hospital.

Body heat from the poorly pets and their owners is being channelled to help save energy costs from spiralling.

The sophisticated system at the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) PetAid hospital, in North Hylton Road, Castletown, utilises body heat and surplus energy from electrical equipment to power the building.

As well as helping to warm consulting rooms, offices and operating theatres, it also plays a part in heating the centre’s water supply.

Now the £1.6million hospital, which opened last year, has been honoured at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) North East Renaissance Awards, beating tough competition to win the sustainability category.

Newcastle-based Anthony Keith Architects incorporated the energy-efficient system into the design of the hospital, which means it does not need a traditional boiler.

A heat pump extracts warmth from the outside air, which is boosted by a second pump, captured body heat and solar panels.

A computerised management system then transfers heat to parts of the hospital where it is needed most.

“When it comes to body heat, the animals do help,” said architect Anthony Keith. “It all goes into the mix. We can move the heat around and water is also heated as is the floor, because animals lie on the floor.”

The Wearside hospital employs six vets, eight nurses, five receptionists, four veterinary care assistants and three animal care auxiliaries and treats animals whose owners are on benefits and can not afford to pay.

It includes a waiting room, six consulting rooms, two operating theatres, a dental suite and x-ray facilities.

The award judges singled it out for special praise.

“The PDSA Hospital building represents an evolution of design,” they said.

“Through the clever use of available technology, the building makes the most of heat generated by the users of the building to store and re-use energy, providing a sustainable source of hot water and warmth, and removing the need for a main energy supply to the building.”

Two other Sunderland-based projects were recognised among the region’s top developments at this year’s RICS North East Renaissance Awards, which were presented at Newcastle Civic Centre.

Transforming Hendon took the top prize in the Regeneration category, while the £7million refurbishment of Sunderland Station was highly commended in the Design and Innovation category.

See story http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/local/hot_dogs_cut_heating_bills_1_3304740

This entry was posted on May 4, 2011 at 5:04 PM and has received 367 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

By Simon Mainwaring

I had the real pleasure of visiting Patagonia HQ in Ventura, California. It's a brand that I, and many others, have admired for so long because of the powerful alignment between their core values and how they run their business and make their products. To better understand how they achieve this, I asked Rick Ridgeway, the VP for Environmental initiatives to walk us through their process.

SM: Hi, I'm Simon Mainwaring and I'm here at Patagonia HQ in Ventura, California. I have the great privilege of being here with Rick Ridgeway, who is the VP for Environmental Initiatives. I wanted to talk to him about a program that I find so exciting because it reinvents the relationship between brands and customers. It's called the Footprint Chronicles. Rick, thanks for your time. Tell us, what is the Footprint Chronicles?

RR: Well firstly, Footprint Chronicles had its origins in our need to figure out how better to communicate our sustainability efforts to our customers. We didn't just want to make an annual standard CSR report. It just didn't feel like us. So we were trying to figure out what we could do, when we had this idea to go into our supply chain and make videos that a customer could see when they come into our website and find out what the real origins were of their jacket or T-shirt, going all the way back to the farm where the cotton was grown and ending up at the warehouse where the product finally ends up. They can see slideshows, videos and interviews of the people behind the product. But more importantly, these slides, videos and interviews discuss what is good about the product and what sucks. It's the good and the bad. It's total transparency. That's what the Footprint Chronicles is.

SM: So walk us through the process.

RR: Sure. Take this jacket for example. If you go onto the website and see this jacket you are interested in buying, click on the jacket. From there, you'll be able to follow the origin of the product all the way from the beginning in California, where our design department and our headquartersdesign the product. You can hear the designers tell you about their choices, like in the fabric. For this jacket, they wanted to have a fabric that was made out of recycled polyester to reduce the footprint of the jacket. They also wanted a fabric that, when completely worn out, can be brought back to us for us to recycle. You can hear this story.

From there, you go around the world to Japan, where you're going to meet the factory where the polyester is made. You'll see how it is made from recycled water bottles which, again, reduce the footprint of the product. Once the polyester is made, it is woven into a fabric, which is shipped to a factory here in China, where it is constructed into the garment, which then goes on a ship and crosses the ocean over to here into our warehouse, where it is then dispersed across to the United States and ends up in your closet.

SM: So it's a well traveled garment even before you get to wear it.

RR: Right, so we'll tell you how cool it is that this is all made from water bottles. We'll be able to tell you that when it's all worn out you can bring it back for us to recycle. We'll tell you how it sucks to make this thing in China and ship it clear across the ocean. That's not so cool. What can we do better? So with every story you get to hear both the good and the bad.

SM: Why have you committed to such transparency, and what value have you seen that add to your brand in terms of the response of the customers?

RR: The answer to that question goes back to what our core values are. At Patagonia, it's to make the best product we can. It all starts with that. That's our pledge to you. But we're going to make that jacket with no unnecessary harm to the environment. We choose this wording because it implies that manufacturing is harmful, which we tell you in the Footprint Chronicles. Then, when all that is done, we are going to use our success as a company, which is predicated on your loyalty, to reduce our footprint as much as we can and take our success and give it back to the environment.

We find solutions to what we consider to be the environmental crises. That's why we're in business, and because that is our larger goal, we wanted to be as transparent as we could about everything we're doing that's both good and bad, because we are in business to make these clothes with no unnecessary harm. By being transparent with you, we can invite you into the conversation. On the Footprint Chronicles, there is a place to let us know what you think, or if you have any better ideas on how to make our products.

SM: So if people want to understand more and explore the Footprint Chronicles, where should they go?

RR: Patagonia.com Right on the homepage you'll see Footprint Chronicles.

SM: Patagonia has always been a leader in terms of the value they put into a product, but even more so in terms of the values they bring to a brand and the marketplace. Thank you so much for your time Rick. Much respect for what you're doing here.

Do you find such transparency and accountability from a brand affects your purchasing decision and loyalty? Should a brand be obligated to provide this?

See story @ http://www.fastcompany.com/1749656/patagonia-the-power-of-brand-transparency

This entry was posted on May 4, 2011 at 2:10 PM and has received 531 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

It's not easy being green, especially in the trade show business. Anyone who has attended a trade show - either as exhibitor or attendee - would likely agree that even just shipping a trade show booth halfway across the country creates a great deal of greenhouse gas emissions.

Add to that the shipping of ancillary materials, plane travel of trade show participants, energy usage for show activities and more, and the impact on the environment becomes apparent.

Savvy companies - in an effort to become more environmentally sustainable - are taking a close look at their trade show activities and adopting strategies to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases generated by those activities.

Case in point: Kimberly-Clark Professional. The supplier of products for commercial and institutional washrooms, "clean" and "industrial" manufacturing environments, healthcare facilities and DIY settings has created the most holistic approach to the environmental sustainability of trade show activities in its industry. Central to that approach is a new, environmentally responsible trade show booth and a carbon offsetting program with Carbonfund.org that reduces the company's trade show-related greenhouse gas emissions as well as those of trade show attendees who visit its booth.

Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow
Kimberly-Clark Professional's sustainable trade show strategy is an integral part of its Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow global environmental sustainability program. The program takes a big-picture approach to sustainability by seeking to reduce environmental impact at every stage of its business activities. This includes product design, manufacturing, distribution and use; sales/management activities and facilities; and now, trade show activities.

"We understand that the way we use resources today will shape the world of tomorrow," says Lisa Morden, global sustainability leader, Kimberly-Clark Professional. "This philosophy is reflected in how we look at the entire lifecycle of the products we make - from raw material sources through final product disposal. It's also reflected in how we conduct business - from obtaining LEED certification of our U.S. headquarters building to making our trade show activities more environmentally responsible."

Sustainable Booth Design
Exhibiting at approximately 60 trade shows across North America every year, Kimberly-Clark Professional had been using a booth initially created in 1997. The booth did a good job at adequately showcasing the company's full line of products, but according to Trade Show Manager Lori Bauer, it was heavy and expensive to use.

"Our old booth was made of heavy wood materials, resulting in high shipping and storage costs," she explains. "We wanted a lighter booth that would reduce shipping and storage costs as well as drayage and labor costs for assembly and disassembly."

The company turned to Expotechnik for help. A leading global exhibit house offering high-end custom rentals and turn-key services to customers on five continents, Expotechnik knew a lighter booth would also help Kimberly-Clark Professional align its trade show strategy with its environmental sustainability strategy.

"We consult with our clients to understand their needs and translate those needs into unique designs that are sustainable in terms of use, packaging, weight, transportation, life cycle, recyclability and the incorporation of A/V technology that reduces costly graphic production and printed materials," says Cliff Hutson, Expotechnik. "Through 40 years of R&D, we have perfected the design and functionality of our proprietary materials, resulting in significantly reduced costs as well as reduced environmental impact."

"Taking advantage of new booth construction techniques from Expotechnik gives us an opportunity to use materials that are lighter and more sustainable in nature, thus reducing our environmental impact," Bauer adds, noting that Expotechnik created a modular design concept that allows Kimberly-Clark Professional to set up both island and in-line exhibits with a range of sizes, depending on the specific show need.

Unveiled in July at the BOMA 2010 International Conference & Every Building Show in Long Beach, Calif., the booth configurations are comprised of approximately 90 percent post-consumer recycled, rented or re-used products. These materials are nearly 100 percent recyclable or re-usable, so that when the booth is no longer needed by Kimberly-Clark Professional, the materials can be re-used again. In fact, about 60 percent of the materials are directly re-usable, meaning they can be returned to inventory without expending energy to recreate or recycle them.

Some of the environmentally sustainable booth construction materials include:

• Post-consumer recycled polyester fabric called Enviro Celtic. It meets FTC guidelines for recycled products. It is also recycled at the end of its life with a minimum of processing to create shredded poly-fill.
• Aluminum framing and joining sleeves, which are re-used or, if damaged, recycled by standard aluminum recycling methods.
• Wood panels made of Forest Stewardship Council-certified, formaldehyde-free plywood; low-VOC contact adhesive; water-based clear finishes; and Green Guard certified high-pressure laminates.
• The carpet is rented, and thus re-used locally at each show, eliminating carbon emissions that would be incurred by transporting it to and from each show.
• Mercury-free, lead-free LED lighting, which delivers high-output light with low power consumption and low voltage.
• Energy Star-compliant monitors that reduce the company's reliance on costly printing and are recycled at the end of their life.

Offsetting Carbon Footprint of Booth Visitors
On the heels of unveiling its new environmentally sustainable trade show booth in July 2010, Kimberly-Clark Professional announced it would offset the carbon emissions associated with its trade show activities and the activities of customers visiting its booth. The carbon offsetting program started with its exhibits at the ISSA/INTERCLEAN Show and Greenbuild Conference in November 2010.

"Reducing our carbon footprint is one of the best ways that individuals and companies alike can lessen our impact on the Earth's climate and provide for a more sustainable future," Morden says.

To implement the carbon offsetting trade show program, Kimberly-Clark Professional and Expotechnik partnered with Carbonfund.org, the leading non-profit carbon reduction and climate solutions organization.

Kimberly-Clark Professional works with Carbonfund.org to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions generated by employee travel, shipping of the trade show booth and related materials, hotel stays, meals eaten, and booth electricity use.

Based on those calculations, Kimberly-Clark Professional will donate an equivalent amount of money to one of Carbonfund.org's reforestation carbon reduction projects. The Amazon Forest Conservation Project, for example, will protect up to millions of acres from slash-and-burn forest clearing and prevent tens of millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The project will also provide essential ecosystem services such as erosion control; water cycling, filtration and storage; nutrient recycling; and habitat for thousands of native Amazonian animal and plant species. Carbon offsets generated from these projects are then retired on behalf of Kimberly-Clark Professional.

Kimberly-Clark Professional also offsets the carbon dioxide emissions of the trade show attendees who visit its booth. Together with Carfonfund.org, Kimberly-Clark Professional will calculate the carbon dioxide emissions generated by attendees' roundtrip travel, meals eaten, hotel room stays and their share of the event's overall estimated energy usage. Attendees will be given the option of donating their carbon offsets to support one of Carbonfund.org's programs including reforestation, energy efficiency or renewable energy projects.

"A week after the ISSA/INTERCLEAN Show, we exhibited at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Chicago where there was a lot of excitement around what we were doing," Morden concludes, noting that the company offset more than 1.88 million pounds of greenhouse gases throughout the two November shows. "We made it clear to our customers, prospective customers and others that the Kimberly-Clark Professional brand is synonymous with environmental sustainability."

For more information on Kimberly-Clark Professional's environmental sustainability philosophy, visit www.kcpreducetoday.com/us.

See story @ http://www.exhibitoronline.com/news/enn-display.asp?counter=9938

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The most comfortable scrubs you will every wear thanks to our ring-spun organic cotton!

Hanna Scrub Top

• List Price : $36.95
• Your Price: $28.95 (buy now)

The Hanna scrub top is a fashionable scrub top with a square cut neckline and a modified empire waist. The wide tie back waistband creates a shapely look while the long body provides the coverage you need for performance and comfort. 

This entry was posted on May 3, 2011 at 6:34 PM and has received 356 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.