Jazmine Garcia
Ramapo College of New Jersey
matt polsky
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Hackensack University Medical Center introduced an environmental center, The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center, which was one first of its kind in the country. One of their first initiatives was the implementation of green cleaning supplies that are third party certified which means they are effective, safe and healthier for patients and team members. These cleaning products ensure that their staff, patients, and anyone visiting the hospital are not exposed to harsh toxins found in typical cleaning products. This solution to harsh chemicals in cleaning products partners with the good health and well-being UN global goals.
Along with the implementation of green cleaning supplies, with the help of Kyle Tafuri and his team, the hospital was able to introduce other sustainability initiatives such as antibiotic free meat. According to the CDC 23,000 patients die each year due to antibiotic resistance while at least 2 million people are infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria. The antibiotics in the meat that is fed to the animals at industrial farms, were creating an antibiotic resistance in people. With antibiotic resistance, if a patient needs antibiotics due to infection, more potent antibiotics need to be used that kill most healthy living bacteria in the body. This may do more harm than good when battling the infection. According to the Kyle, Senior Sustainability Advisor at HMUC, “We lead the country’s health care in antibiotic free meat.” 90% of all the meat served in the dining halls is antibiotic free. This new introduction helped the hospital members and patients eat healthier foods.
Another example of a sustainability initiative was purchasing furnishings that did not contain toxic flame retardants (or any added flame retardants). Chemicals used to create fire retardant materials can be highly toxic and could potentially cause a toxic build up in the bodies of patients. Kyle and his team worked on removing all materials in the hospital made with fire retardant chemicals such as pillows, mattresses, blankets, couches, chairs etc. This was a change that the community in the hospital benefited by not being exposed to those harsh chemicals.
Kyle Tafuri joined the Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center (EHC) as an intern after discovering his passion for helping people. In the business of helping people, naturally protecting the environment tied in and Kyle began working alongside the other members of the team to create a safe and healthy environment for all that come into the hospital. Soon, Kyle became the Environmental Health Center's Senior Sustainability Advisor at Hackensack hospital. A quote from Kyle that showed his compassion and determination was, “The keys to sustainability are to create positive change and build meaningful relationships.”
The costs of treating antibiotic resistance infections has more than doubled to more than $2.2 billion annually since 2002. With antibiotics being used more in animals than people, Hackensack University Medical Center (and now all of Hackensack Meridian Health) wanted to do their part in moving the market to supply healthier/sustainable foods. By purchasing antibiotic free meat, they are signaling demand to the market and serving team members and patients healthier and more sustainable foods. This may lead to other hospitals, schools, or businesses to catch on and begin banning antibiotic meat in their dining halls. As time has gone on the price has dropped substantially as now adopting antibiotic free meat has begun more of a standard throughout many industries.
Specifically with the removal of all fire retardants in furniture, the process began with a look at the legislation that required it in all furniture. On closer inspection of this law, it was revealed that one could be exempt if a sprinkler system was put into place. The change began with education, once people were informed of the illegitimacy of the necessity of fire retardants in furniture and the toxic chemicals, they welcomed it. The steps that the hospital took to remove fire retardant furniture in their entire hospital were difficult was well worth it. In projects and constructions moving forward, they will continue to keep fire retardant furniture out of their hospital.
Due the hospital's work in developing new sustainability initiatives, they were able to introduce the marriage of environmental protection and healthcare. Environmental work in healthcare is not as much of a conversation as it is in other fields. Hackensack hospital is aiming towards changing that and pushing more sustainability initiatives forward with the health of their employees, their patients, and the environment in mind.
This may open up the opportunity of new green investments into the hospital with the knowledge of their environmental work. The hospital may encourage other green businesses to work with the hospital upon hearing about their sustainability initiatives. Green products or services may look to collaborate with Hackensack hospital in the hopes that they could help each other. The hospital has opened up so many doors in sustainability due to their environmental efforts.
At Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), the clock never stops. Patients are being treated and cared for at all hours of the day and night. For this reason, hospitals as large as HUMC, can become incredibly energy consumptive and wasteful. The goals of the Environmental Health Center at HUMC, are to enrich the lives of you and your family by supporting a healthy environment for generations to come. By reducing waste, limiting pollution, eliminating exposure to toxic materials and so much more, HUMC strives to become the best hospital in the area at sustainability.
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Kyle Tafuri, Director of Sustainability
Hackensack University Medical Center focuses on providing the best care for patients and members of the community in the New York metropolitan area. They strive to provide a quality education to all of their staff on how to best treat patients.