 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Saying goodbye for now
Kelly Heekin se está yendo H2E. With our blessing, Kelly is moving to Honduras for adventure and to learn how to speak Spanish fluently. Kelly has been with H2E for 3 years. She’s been our first and only Communications Coordinator, eloquently and enthusiastically telling the story of hospitals across the country that have made environmental performance a part of their mission. She’s been the author of H2E’s favorite newsletter, STATGreen and worked hard trying to keep us on deadline launching our new website. We don’t know what we’re going to do without her (we’re actually hoping she learns Spanish quickly and the weather is bad and that she’ll come back soon)! Thanks for your hard work, dedication and for a laugh that is infectious. We’ll miss you Kelly.
For media inquiries and help with communications after May 5, please contact Janet Brown for H2E Partners, Sarah O’Brien for H2E Champions, and Liza Nanni for general inquiries.
– Laura Brannen, Director, H2E
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 One H2E Award Winner Goes
Local and Organic
 Long an environmental champion within the Catholic Healthcare West system, Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, CA made a “green” name for itself nationally this year by winning an H2E Environmental Leadership Award.
Among its many innovative programs, Dominican has developed a Food and Nutrition Vision Statement that affirms the facility’s commitment to providing environmentally sustainable and locally grown food for its patients and staff. A partnership with local organic farmers and a 3,800 sq ft on-site organic garden turn this statement into a reality, producing fresh fruits and vegetables that are served to Dominican’s patients and staff. Innovative purchasing initiatives include a Vendor Ecology Policy that states Dominican’s preference for environmentally responsible vendors and a Cost Guide for Capital Equipment that specifies environmental impact.
To learn more about this year’s H2E award winners, click here.
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 May Teleconferences
This month H2E is hosting three free teleconferences for H2E Partners and Champions:
• May 5th: Tracking Your Progress
(part of the Green Guide for Health Care Series)
• May 12th: Pharmaceutical Waste – Learn Best Management Practices and How to Be in Compliance with RCRA
• May 19th: Intro to H2E and Data Collection
For more information and to register, see www.h2e-online.org.
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Measuring Progress at Sparrow Health System
 A strong tracking system ensures that Sparrow Health System in Lansing, MI is able to quantify the success of its waste minimization and toxics elimination programs. An H2E Environmental Leadership Award winner in 2005 and 2006, last year Sparrow recycled more than 84,481 pounds of electronic equipment. Quite a feat – but that was only the beginning.
Recycling single use devices eliminated 5,003 pounds of waste and saved the hospital over $3,900. All mercury-containing chemicals have been eliminated from the lab, as have any pharmaceuticals with thimerosal, phenyl mercuric acetate, and phenyl mercuric nitrate. A switch to microfiber mopping and the use of Green Seal certified cleaning products eliminated the need for more than $10,000 of chemicals per year. One hundred and twenty-seven pieces of furniture and 132 mattresses were given to local non-profit organizations, and in 2005 Sparrow donated a 40-foot semi-trailer full of medical supplies, medical equipment, beds, furniture and computers to Ghana, Africa through a local “sister cities” program.
Learn more about this year’s H2E award winners by clicking here.
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Celebrating Success:
The 2006 H2E Award Winners
 This year H2E celebrated the success of a groundbreaking 190 hospitals and health care organizations for outstanding environmental achievement at the H2E Awards Ceremony on April 18 in Seattle.
More than 400 health care facility staff, administrators, health system managers, GPO staff, and supplier representatives applauded the immense accomplishments of this year's winners, from facilities that are mercury-free or recycle 40% of their waste, to health systems that have committed to providing healthier foods to their patients and staff, to GPOs who have begun to require elimination of toxic materials through their contracting practices.
Learn more about the incredible achievements of this year’s winners – and how your facility can receive recognition for the great work you’re doing – at www.h2e-online.org/awards/overview.htm.
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Don't Forget to Tell your CEO
...and the Newspaper
 You've done the work. Now get the praise! Talk with your Public Relations Department today
Winning an H2E award provides an incredible opportunity to get good publicity both within your facility and within your community for your environmental efforts. Often winners report that their award provided them with the visibility and high-level support they needed to take their programs to the next level. Putting in even minimal effort to spread the word can have high returns. Don't miss this easy opportunity to get positive attention!
H2E is here to help. We've developed sample press releases and press kits for you to customize and use, tips on getting the word out to help you get started, and sample results of award winner outreach to demonstrate what's possible. Take advantage of these great resources – available now at www.h2e-online.org/awards/press.htm.
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 New H2E Partners
The following facilities joined H2E in April
Alliance of Veterinarians for the Environment, Nashville, TN
Aurora Health Center - Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac, WI
Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute, Little Rock, AK
Community Health Connections, Inc, Fitchburg, MA
Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, Inc., New Bedford, MA
NF/SG Veterans Health System, Lake City, FL
Research Medical Center , Kansas City, MO
Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, MD
St. John's Hospital HealthEast, Maplewood, MN
Welcome to H2E!
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