Health Care Without Harm

HCWH's mission is to transform the health care industry so it is no longer a source of environmental harm by eliminating pollution in health care practices without comprimising safety or care by:

1. Promoting comprehensive pollution prevention practices.

2. Supporting the development and use of environmentally safe materials, technology and products.

3. Educating and informing health care institutions , providers, workers, consumers, and all affected constituencies about the environmental and public health impacts of the health care industry and solutions to these problems.

For more information, visit the HCWH web site

Lowell Center For Sustainable Production

Sustainable Hospitals Project

University of Massachusetts Lowell

The Sustainable Hospitals Project (SHP) provides technical support to the healthcare industry for selecting products and work practices that eliminate or reduce occupational and environmental hazards, maintain quality patient care, and contain costs.

The Sustainable Hospitals Project has established a web-site for quick access to product information. It provides online information regarding alternatives to products containing mercury, latex, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other potentially harmful materials. In addition, the site provides information on effective strategies for implementing product changes.

SHP is also a recent recipient of a three-year grant to work directly with area hospitals to develop pilot programs that link pollution prevention occupational safety and health. Interdisciplinary in-hospital teams will be established to ensure that the impacts of products and work methods are evaluated throughout their life cycles. Successful application of the model will allow hospitals to identify those cost-effective products and practices that promote pollution prevention and occupational health and safety.

For more information, visit the SHP web site