Connecticut Hospital Association Shared Services Program

The Connecticut Hospital Association Shared Services Program (CHA SSP) is committed to helping members achieve their green goals. Whether your facility is implementing hospital-wide initiatives or looking at one department or a single product, CHA SSP has gathered valuable information to assist you.

Together with its partners, MAGNET and MedAssets, CHA SSP offers flexible access to a range of competitive agreements and programs tailored to meet each individual member's needs.

Contracts for products and services or links to reference material are available for the following categories:

Cleaners, Equipment, Disinfectants	Reprocessing
Energy Efficiency	Waste Management
Green Building/Building Design	Water Conservation
Mercury, PVC, DEHP-free Products

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There are several nationally recognized organizations and government agencies that offer information on green program development and implementation. From simple "how to get started" questionnaires to case studies on sustainable food programs, these websites are an encyclopedia of green ideas. Although some websites may require membership or registration to gain access to all or part of their sites, much of the information is free and publicly available.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – The EPA website has a wealth of information about current issues. The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) section is a guide for green purchasing. Originally designed to help the federal government "buy green," this site can also help green vendors, businesses, organizations, and consumers. Some of the most useful sections are: finding and evaluating green products and services; tools and related links.

The EPA Region 1 website has information about the EPA's work specifically in New England.

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) – The DEP site contains general information concerning environmental regulations and issues in Connecticut. Special sections include the Environmental Protection Begins With You page that lists ideas for green living at home, at work and in the community. Under the "At Work" listing there is a link for the GreenCircle Award program, which was created to recognize participation in energy conservation, transportation, pollution prevention or recycling related activities or projects that promote natural resource conservation or environmental awareness. To date, more than 750 awards have been granted to businesses, institutions, individuals and civic organizations for their involvement in over 1,100 projects.

Connecticut Department of Agriculture – This site includes a section on Connecticut Farmers' Markets. The Farmers' Markets are ideal places to obtain fresh, locally grown food, including a selection of organics, and to save both transportation costs and the effect on the environment.

Health Care Without Harm - Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of hospitals and health care systems, medical professionals, community groups, health-affected constituencies, labor unions, environmental and environmental health organizations and religious groups. Their mission is to transform the health care sector worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. The Health Care Without Harm website has information on several key environmental issues, including:

Practice Greenhealth - Practice Greenhealth was formed through a merger of Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E), the Green Guide for Health Care (the first quantifiable, sustainable design toolkit), and Healthcare Clean Energy Exchange (clean energy and energy efficiency program).

American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES) - ASHES is the premier professional membership society for healthcare environmental services, housekeeping, waste management, textile care professionals and related support services disciplines. ASHES provides education, recognition for personal and professional achievements, national networking as well as affiliation and collaboration with the American Hospital Association on public policy and advocacy issues related to healthcare environmental services.

SHP provides support to the healthcare industry for selecting products and work practices that eliminate or reduce occupational and environmental hazards, maintain quality patient care and contain costs. SHP advocates a common-sense approach designed to avoid pollution prevention efforts that can inadvertently introduce new occupation safety and health problems, and vice versa. (Sometimes referred to as "risk shifting".)

Connecticut Hospital Association - CHA's first forum designed to help Connecticut healthcare leaders learn about Go Green initiatives and practices.