Helping Hospitals to Green their Facilities Aim of New OHA Program
Ontario Hospital Association
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Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3L1
Tel: (416) 205-1345 Fax: (416) 205-1360
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Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Toronto - The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) has taken steps to ensure Ontario hospitals remain ecologically sustainable by launching an initiative aiming to educate about the benefits of maintaining optimal environmental conditions within hospitals.
"The OHA has long-recognized the importance of remaining environmentally responsible,"said Hilary Short, President and CEO of the OHA."With the launch of the OHA’s Green Health Care Initiative, we are ensuring that hospitals have the tools and resources they need to begin Green Health Care programs of their own, and become more informed about environmental issues within their facilities."
Managed by the OHA and supported by the Ontario Ministry of Energy, the Green Health Care initiative will provide Ontario hospitals with information, tools and resources, through a "Green Health Care Guide", so that organizations are equipped to effectively manage environmental issues such as waste, air emissions, water conservation, and energy efficiency.
The OHA’s Green Health Care Guide will be released at the OHA’s Green Health Care conference " Green Health Care: Building the Foundations of an Environmental Strategy " on February 23, 2005, which will serve as the official launch of the initiative. Donna Cansfield, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy, will also be on hand to address conference delegates.
"Given the fiscal challenges currently facing the health care system, it is important for our hospitals to continually enhance levels of efficiency within their facilities," said Short. "Investing in Green Health Care programs can mean increased savings in environmental management - ultimately translating into funds that may be spent elsewhere in the hospital."
The Green Health Care Initiative was created out of the OHA’s established Energy Efficiency program, and it builds on the success of the "Green Lane" and Green Health Care educational session held to promote hospital best practices in green initiatives, as part of this past year’s OHA Annual Convention and Exhibition, OHA HealthAchieve2004.
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For further information:
OHA Public Affairs
416-205-1371