Novation, a leading health care supplier received an award for its work to "change the culture of the health care industry" toward greater environmental sensitivity.
The company won the 2004 Champion for Change award for helping health care facilities reduce hazardous waste, use more environmentally responsible products and virtually eliminate mercury from the waste stream.
"Novation is developing innovative ways to virtually eliminate pollutants from health care products and practices," said Laura Brannen, director of the Hospitals for a Healthy Environment program, which announced the award.
Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) is a joint program of the American Hospital Association, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, Health Care Without Harm, and the American Nurses Association. The organization seeks to improve the environmental performance of the health care industry.
Through its contracts, used by the more than 2,300 VHA and UHC member hospitals and health care organizations nationwide, Novation delivers comprehensive measures to help reduce harmful waste. Among the factors used by Novation in contract evaluations is whether suppliers are using environmentally preferred packaging programs or offer hazardous materials management initiatives.
In its safety product catalogs, Novation lists "green" products, as well as products that are free of mercury, latex, PVC or DEHP (Di(2- ethylhexyl)phthalate, which is a softener used for most PVC medical devices. Novation continues to seek opportunities to increase the number of environmentally preferable products available through its contract portfolio.
Novation is focused on supporting the efforts to virtually eliminate mercury from the healthcare waste stream by 2005. Novation has removed mercury-containing devices from its contract portfolio, provided alternatives for mercury-containing products when available, published a Mercury Elimination Guide for members, and addressed mercury elimination in its contract process.
"We want all organizations with whom we consider contracting to know that environmental stewardship is an issue we take seriously," said Cathy Denning, senior director for safety at Novation. "For example, we take into consideration whether or not manufacturers have environmentally friendly packaging, take-back programs and alternative products to those that are most harmful to the environment.
Denning noted that Novation's efforts also encourage suppliers to develop environmentally preferred products, because there will be a market for them. "Having these 'green' items in our contract portfolio makes it more convenient and affordable for hospitals to access them," she said.
Based in Irving, Texas, Novation was established in January 1998 through a combination of the supply programs of VHA and UHC, two national health care alliances. Novation serves the purchasing needs of more than 2,300 members and affiliates of VHA and UHC. In 2003, VHA and UHC members purchased more than $21 billion in supplies through Novation contracts.
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