Facing Climate Change in the Medical Office: “The Green Doctor Office Program”

FACING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE MEDICAL OFFICE: “THE GREEN DOCTOR OFFICE PROGRAM”

Todd L Sack, MD, FACPJacksonville, FLtsack@bgclinic.comwww.mygreendoctor.org

American Association of Public Health PhysiciansChicago, IL June 2012

ABOUT THE SPEAKER… Gastroenterologist in Jacksonville, FL Past Chair, Jacksonville

Environmental Protection Board Past Chair, Climate Change Advisory

Group for Florida Energy Commission Past Member, Florida Energy

Commission Chair, Environment & Health Section,

Florida Medical Association

FMA POLICY POSITIONS The Physician’s Responsibility for the

Environment and Health (2004) The Health Risks to Floridians of Lead

Toxicity (2004) Health Risks of Florida’s Coal-Burning

Power Plants (2005) Mercury Toxicity Poses a Significant

Preventable Health Risk to Floridians (2005) Climate Change & Human Health (2007)

FMA POLICY POSITIONS (CONT.)

Urban Development in Miami-Dade County & Everglades Protection (2007)

Incinerators & Risks to Human Health (2008) Safe Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (2009) Motor Vehicle Idling in Florida (2009) Informing Floridians of the Health Benefits of

Fish Consumption and Dangers of Mercury Toxicity (2011)

Informing Floridians about the Risks to Municipal Water Supplies & the Limitations of Bottled Water (2011)

www.fma.environmentandhealth.org

CLIMATE CHANGE & DOCTOR OFFICES

Millions of doctor offices worldwide We use significant resourcesDoctor offices are community role

modelsBillions of patient-hours spent in doctor offices annuallyPotential sites for improving public

health

DRAWBACKS OF MEDICAL OFFICES

Low awareness of our environmental impact

Low science education levelsLow environmental knowledge base Low leadership skillsLack of authority for new initiativesLack of time for new initiatives

FMA’S GREEN DOCTOR OFFICE PROGRAM: “SAVING MONEY, IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH”

CONCEPTS OF MYGREENDOCTOR.ORG

A free, web-based tool to teach doctor office employees how to form and manage their own office Green Teams

Offer simple, prescriptive Actions Steps that the Green Team can undertake to make changes in the office

No science background necessaryTools for teaching patients & communities

GOALS OF MYGREENDOCTOR.ORG

1. Increase the environmental knowledge of doctor office workers

2. Improve office use of resources3. Improve office working conditions4. Improve home resources use by

office staffs and patients5. Improve community environmental

quality & public health

:

WHY GO “GREEN” ? Save money by improving

operations Create a healthier work environment Improve office morale Retain employees and lower

absenteeism Improve public relations through

“Green Doctor Office Recognition” Improve patient & community health

WHAT IS THE “GREEN DOCTOR OFFICE PROGRAM”?

Located at www.mygreendoctor.orgAdministered by the Environment &

Health Section of the Florida Medical Association (Tallahassee, FL)

Launched April, 2010 on World Earth Day

Available free to other health professional organizations

SUITABLE FOR…

Any doctor office providing outpatient services or administrative functions

Medical, diagnostic or surgical centers, dental, psychologists, chiropractors, therapists, or administrative offices

Typically offices with 5-50 employees

WHAT VIEWERS WILL FIND AT WWW.MYGREENDOCTOR.ORG:

Registration Form“Quick Start Now!” Overview pages “Contact Us” 7 comprehensive workbooks Green Team Notes form Waiting room brochures

WHAT ELSE ? Program Summary Computer

Requirements Why Businesses Are

Going Green Role of Doctor

Offices in Community Health

Why the Green doctor Office Program

How it Works

Achieving Recognition

Building Your Green Team

Meeting Schedule Web Resources,

References, & Bibliography

Confidentiality & Responsibility

SEVEN WORKBOOKS OFFERING MORE THAN 120 ACTION STEPSAND EDUCATION STEPS:

Energy Efficiency

Renewable Energy

Water Efficiency Solid Waste &

Recycling

Drug Disposal & Chemicals

Transportation & Commuting

Healthy Foods

ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORKBOOK:

Introduction Background

Information Office

Assessment Action Steps Educational

Steps

Introduction:Energy efficiency is the cornerstone of the Green Doctor Office Program.  This is where a doctor office can capture the greatest financial savings and make the strongest community impact.…

“OFFICE LIGHTING” ACTION STEPS

Change to CFL’s & LED’s Properly discard

fluorescent bulbs Install T-8/5

fixtures Turn off lights Use task lighting

Motion detectors Hire an energy

consultant Teaching in the

doctor office Education Steps

HOW TO GET STARTED…

Register at www.mygreendoctor.org (it’s free, no passwords required) Go to “Quick Start Now!” Get yourself “hooked” by reading the

Overview pages (10-15 minutes) Find an office Green Team Leader Schedule a luncheon Team meeting Order the first pizza

ACHIEVING GREEN DOCTOR OFFICE RECOGNITION

Required are 5 meetings, 5 Action Steps, & 5 Education Steps

Must demonstrate regular meetings and significant accomplishments

Reporting your progress is easy using the “Green Team Notes” form

Can be ready for recognition in 6 months Reviewed by FMA physicians

GDOP STATUS REPORT

Website launched April 2010 Registered 116 offices 38 Florida counties 17 US states, 3 countries 18,784 employees 6 offices awarded “Recognition” status

“RECOGNITION” SUCCESS STORY

Escambia County Health Department Five medical offices Pensacola, Florida 11 Green Team meetings 11 Action Steps reported Awarded “Recognition” January 2011

ESCAMBIA COUNTY HD: ACTION STEPS COMPLETED

Comprehensive recycling Double-sided copying Purchase recycled-content paper Scan all documents Policy to turn of lights at night Removed bulbs in multi-bulb lights

ESCAMBIA COUNTY HD: ACTION STEPS COMPLETED

Eliminated personal appliances Installed motions detectors Purchased a hybrid vehicle Discontinued hot water in all offices

ESCAMBIA COUNTY HD: SAVINGS

Saving energy every month 125,000 kilowatt hours electricity $14,000 saved annually 85,600 pounds CO2 per year Equivalent of 4,349 gallons gasoline

TIPS FOR GREEN TEAM SUCCESS Gain permission from management Find an office Team Leader Reward your Team Meet regularly (monthly) Choose small, steady improvementsFind an advocate for each Action Step Keep “Green Team Notes” Engage your entire office staff Inform your patients Aspire for “GDOP Recognition”

ASSESSMENT AFTER 2 YEARS

Doctor Office Green Teams are popular Build office cohesion, pride, & morale Realistic to save $2500 per office per year Requires a dedicated team leader No science background necessary Best with small, progressive changes Potential for improving the public health Requires real work to be successful Relatively few users so far

CURRENT DIRECTIONS

Increase awareness of the Program Partner with professional organizations Develop more educational materials Begin a website re-design Consider developing an “app” Improve metrics for analysis of outcomes

FACING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE MEDICAL OFFICE: “THE GREEN DOCTOR OFFICE PROGRAM”

Todd L Sack, MD, FACPJacksonville, FLtsack@bgclinic.comwww.mygreendoctor.org

American Association of Public Health PhysiciansChicago, IL June 2012