Virginia Hospitals for a Healthy Environment

Virginia Hospitals for a Healthy Environment or "VH2E" is the Virginia DEQ's initiative to encourage the voluntary elimination of mercury and reduction of wastes in Virginia hospitals and healthcare facilities. The program was launched in December of 2003 and already has more than 80 member facilities. The program was created in support of the national Hospitals for a Healthy Environment program which is based upon the terms of the “Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)” between the U.S. EPA and the American Hospital Association (AHA). The MOU was signed in 1998 and commits to:

1) eliminate mercury in the nation’s hospitals by the year 2005

2) reduce hospital waste by 33% by 2005 and 50% by 2010

3) identify hazardous substances for pollution prevention and waste reduction opportunities, including hazardous chemicals and persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic pollutants.

The Virginia DEQ has been working since the Fall of 2002 to develop a voluntary program that will encourage Virginia hospitals and healthcare facilities to commit to these national goals. The Virginia DEQ established an advisory group that consisted of Virginia hospitals, healthcare associations, and non-profit organizations. Partners include the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, the Virginia Nurses Association, the Virginia Health Care Waste Management Cooperative, and Healthcare Without Harm.

In December 2003, the Virginia DEQ announced the Virginia program, “Virginia Hospitals for a Healthy Environment” and officially began recruitment of healthcare facilities. In September 2004, a “Charter Member Signing Event” was held at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond to recognize the 72 Charter Members in VH2E!

For more on VH2E, click here.

Sustainable hospitals site - www.sustainablehospitals.org