There are some pretty committed green team members at UHN. We have seen people digging through office garbage to help sort recyclables. Not recommended but if you are so inclined - please please be careful when sticking a tender hand into the unknown abyss of a garbage can.
There are green team members that bring in tea towels from home and wash them for their whole unit to try to eliminate the use of disposable paper towels.
There are green team members that contact us when they see too many unused medical supplies getting pitched. In many cases we have reduced or eliminated the need for those items during procedures without compromising staff or patient safety.
But this week I need to tell you about Colin Gerard in Medical Imaging.
Over the last month he has rallied together individuals from out three hospitals, Mt. Sinai and Women’s College to help promote the green team at the Joint Department of Medical Imaging (JDMI) Education Day on September 30th. Together they have ensured that recycling and compost bins will be available for everyone. They will be hosting a raffle and a design contest for a UHN green team banner to be used at all future green team events across UHN. He has several slides that will be shown during breaks so the attendees remember to use the bins so kindly provided and visit the green team table to learn more about all the innovative ways Medical Imaging is greening.
If ever there was a case for the power of one Mr. Gerard has made UHN proud. His enthusiasm and perseverance had encouraged others to do the same and step by step we are seeing that green future emerge…or is that the green team in their green t-shirts?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
White Coat Black Art Goes Green - UHN on CBC
Join Dr. Brian Goldman as he explores the issue of healthcare's environmental impact while touring the University Health Network to see how we're meeting the challenge and greening ourselves.
Listen to the show or catch the podcast at
www.cbc.ca/whitecoat/2010/09/17/hospitals-go-green-on-wcba/
Listen to the show or catch the podcast at
www.cbc.ca/whitecoat/2010/09/17/hospitals-go-green-on-wcba/
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Talkin' Trash, September 2010 - poetic licence edition
One Person's Trash Is Another Person's Poetry
Believe it or not, there are some who, for whatever reason, don’t seem to get the same gleam in their eye, the same bounce in their step, the same song in their voice as I do when my thoughts turn to things trash.
So, to help dispel this crazy, crazy myth that garbage, while undoubtedly important, is somewhat boring, somewhat mundane, I turn to the highest form of literacy...the fine art of poetry and give you...
The Greening of UHN in Seventeen Syllables
(all apologies to anyone who knows anything about haiku, poetry or the English language)
Looking for things green?
Find all you could ever want
on the intranet.
Annual report...
Energy, Environment,
what we do all year.
And behind the scenes?
Greening Activities page
has details galore.
What are we doing
about those Styrofoam cups?
We’re working on it.
And L.E.D. lights?
Elevator forty-eight
in the Eaton Wing.
Show some T.L.C....
turn off lights and computers,
conserve energy.
Tired of traffic?
New UHN Carpool Zone
will ease your commute.
Want to ride your bike?
Cycling at UHN page
will help start pedals.
As will UHN’s
Bicycle User Group’s (BUG),
thousand plus members.
There once was a recycling bin
From Nantucket...
(oh, wait...limericks are next issue).
Can we recycle
this or this or this or that?
Check out our posters.
Blue box recycling
And well beyond the blue box...
posters you can print.
Don’t forget compost,
as if stinky, rotting food
could slip someone’s mind.
Take fifteen seconds,
sign UHN’s Greening Pledge,
lead by example.
Want to help green more?
Join the UHN Green Team...
no meetings, free mug.
Outside UHN?
Our brand new Talkin’ Trash blog
will keep you in touch.
It’s a good, good thing
I wrote these poems after
my P.E.S.
Believe it or not, there are some who, for whatever reason, don’t seem to get the same gleam in their eye, the same bounce in their step, the same song in their voice as I do when my thoughts turn to things trash.
So, to help dispel this crazy, crazy myth that garbage, while undoubtedly important, is somewhat boring, somewhat mundane, I turn to the highest form of literacy...the fine art of poetry and give you...
The Greening of UHN in Seventeen Syllables
(all apologies to anyone who knows anything about haiku, poetry or the English language)
Looking for things green?
Find all you could ever want
on the intranet.
Annual report...
Energy, Environment,
what we do all year.
And behind the scenes?
Greening Activities page
has details galore.
What are we doing
about those Styrofoam cups?
We’re working on it.
And L.E.D. lights?
Elevator forty-eight
in the Eaton Wing.
Show some T.L.C....
turn off lights and computers,
conserve energy.
Tired of traffic?
New UHN Carpool Zone
will ease your commute.
Want to ride your bike?
Cycling at UHN page
will help start pedals.
As will UHN’s
Bicycle User Group’s (BUG),
thousand plus members.
There once was a recycling bin
From Nantucket...
(oh, wait...limericks are next issue).
Can we recycle
this or this or this or that?
Check out our posters.
Blue box recycling
And well beyond the blue box...
posters you can print.
Don’t forget compost,
as if stinky, rotting food
could slip someone’s mind.
Take fifteen seconds,
sign UHN’s Greening Pledge,
lead by example.
Want to help green more?
Join the UHN Green Team...
no meetings, free mug.
Outside UHN?
Our brand new Talkin’ Trash blog
will keep you in touch.
It’s a good, good thing
I wrote these poems after
my P.E.S.
Links to the Inside Out
- Hockey is cool. Helping people is cool too. It then follows that playing hockey to help people is the coolest of cool. Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer...too cool.
- White Coat, Black Art goes green. This Saturday, September 18 at 11:00 am on CBC Radio One, listen to Dr. Nizar Mahomed weave his surgical expertise as a whole bunch o' UHNers talk trash.
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