Environmental Training Program: A Frontline Worker Engagement Approach to Greening Healthcare. Worker Engagement and Leadership Development

Transcription

1 Environmental Training Program: A Frontline Worker Engagement Approach to Greening Healthcare

2 Healthcare s Environmental Footprint 8% of Greenhouse Gas emissions in U.S. Top 10 water user in a community 2 million tons of waste produced every year Chemicals of concern in products in food, materials, products Gerwig, Kathy.Greening of Healthcare. NY,NY. Oxford University Press, Print

3 This footprint contributes to human heath issues Weather Event Heat Waves Extreme Weather Events Drought, Floods, increased mean temperature Drought, ecosystems, migration Increases in ground-level ozone, airborne allergens, other pollution Climate Change generally Health Effects Heat Stress Injuries, Drowning, population movement Vector-, food-, and waterborne diseases Food and water shortages, malnutrition Respiratory disease exacerbations Mental Health

4 Environmental Training Program 2011 Department of Labor Energy Training Partnership Grant Across the country it was 11 Employers 4 SEIU Unions 5 Joint L/M Training Fund Washington - SMC, NWH New York Montefiore, NYU, Presbyterian DC/Baltimore UMC, Dimensions, MD General, Communicare National partners Southern CA Kaiser Permanente LAMC & Riverside, USC+LAC Labor Management Project North Seattle Community College Practice Green Health SEIU Education and Support Fund

5 Worker Engagement Worker Empowerment

6 ETP- Key Components Labor-Management Committees Train the Trainer Onsite departmentwide worker education Green Projects College Certificate

7 Train the Trainer Goal: Develop worker-trainers as institutional resources to support current and future training in their departments. Prepares a small group of motivated frontline workers to co-facilitate training modules to their peers Participants often assume leadership roles

8 Overview of Educational Model Engaging, hands on and experiential Learning, thinking, and reflecting Visual and interactive Participatory & grounded in principles of adult learning Peer to Peer facilitation with professional trainer support

9 EVS Training Modules- 90 min 1. Seeing Green (Intro) 2. Talking Green (communication) 3. Water Conservation 4. Reduction of Waste 5. Energy Conservation 6. Reduction of HAI s 7. Green Our Work (Health & Safety)

10 Sustainability in Healthcare College Certificate Course Offered through a local Community College Project- Based Learning, Dual Instructor Learn Excel, PowerPoint, presentation skills, how to make a business case Skills learned translate to other areas of work Final Project: Presentation to hospital administration and union leaders Worker Greening Engagement Healthcare and and Leadership Advancing Development Careers

11 Example Course Project Worker Greening Engagement Healthcare and and Leadership Advancing Development Careers

12 Sample Labor-Management Projects 1. Rechargeable Batteries in Towel Dispensers 2. Recycling Saline and Dialysis Bottles 3. Recycling Plastic Film (Stretch Wrap, Bubble Wrap, Linen Cart Covers, Patient Garment bags 4. Energy Conservation Initiatives 5. Improving Reuse Programs 1. Pillows 2. Oximeter Sensors 6. Cafeteria Kitchen Recycling 7. And more!!! Worker Greening Engagement Healthcare and and Leadership Advancing Development Careers

13 Overall Impact of ETP: Increased awareness of front line workers role in creating a sustainable environment and quality healthcare system. Improved labor-management relationships and department moral Participants became aware of the need for change and creative problem solving Reduction of the hospital s carbon footprint and cost savings (help need with internal tracking) Worker Greening Engagement Healthcare and and Leadership Advancing Development Careers

14 Scott Goodell Program Coordinator A Frontline Worker Labor-Management Engagement and Approach Leadership to Greening Development Healthcare