Greening of Health Care
Healthcare Green Teams have an acute sense of responsibility.
They are expected to lead the facility by improving patient safety and service levels, while lowering healthcare costs. They are expected to provide a safe working environment that enhances morale and boosts productivity to attract and keep good staff. Green Teams are expected to create a facility that is a model for the community and the healthcare industry.
Every action by the Green Team has a ripple effect; even the smallest improvement manifests in dramatic changes to patient outcomes, staff happiness and impact on the environment.
There is no separation between environmental issues and health issues” (Smith and Lourie, 2010). Researchers from Environment Canada (Muir and Zegarac, 2001) estimate that Canadian healthcare costs and lost productivity linked to environmental factors total between $46 billion and $52 billion per year. These are staggering numbers and could be easily overlooked when various government budgets are examined as ‘silos’ and the interconnectivity of the environment and healthcare costs are not considered. They are costs borne both financially and in terms of quality of life.” Dayle Laing, Walter F. Kean (MD (Glas), FRCP (Edin, Glas, & C), Clinical Professor in Medicine (Rheumatology), McMaster University. (2011). Greening of Healthcare: Fabrics used in Health Care Facilities. J Green Building 6(4). Greening of Healthcare Fabrics Paper
Dayle Laing’s Keynote PresentationsInspire and motivate your team by engaging Dayle:
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Dayle's Lunch ‘n Learn SeminarsProvide your team with practical information they can use immediately in your healthcare facility. Schedule Dayle to present a Lunch ‘n Learn Seminar:
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Engage Dayle to Consult with Your Green TeamDayle consults for specific projects or for an ongoing basis:
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About Dayle LaingDayle is a sustainability expert with extensive experience working with healthcare professionals. She brings over 20 years of interior design knowledge, college teaching, and is a LEED Accredited Professional. Dayle has more than a dozen years experience in the Pharmaceutical industry. Dayle and Dr. Kean's paper, “Greening of Healthcare: Fabrics used in Health Care Facilities” was published in the Journal of Green Building, in the Fall 2011. Dayle Laing Biography |
The greening of healthcare textiles is a topic of great importance for the overall greening of healthcare spaces due to the large number of chemicals used in the production of fabrics. Both patients and healthcare workers are exposed to these chemicals through dermal contact, inhalation, and ingestion. Hospital green teams and purchasing agents need to be aware of how to best select textiles for their facilities." Dayle Laing and Walter F. Kean, MD
Poster of Dayle Laing & Dr. Kean's Paper, Greening of Healthcare Fabrics
This scientific poster was presented July 4-6, 2011 at the International Conference on 20 years of Inflammopharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Inflammo Conference Meeting Abstract
Glossary of Green Healthcare Terms
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