Safety Program Environmental Initiatives Dee Ann Cross, RN, MS Sr. Clinical Manager, Safety

2 Safety Positioning Statement Novation recognizes the critical importance of protecting the safety of patients, health care workers, and the environment. In effectively serving VHA and UHC member organizations, Novation will actively pursue the inclusion of safety-related products and programs in its portfolio of offerings, and collaborate with health care safety leaders to support the safety initiatives of the alliances.

3 Novation’s Areas of Safety Patient Safety Medication Safety Health Care Worker Safety Environmental Safety

4 Novation’s 2004 Plan for Safety Reintroduce the Safety/Quality Issue Resolution Process to VHA and UHC healthcare organizations Promote Novation’s commitment to the environment among staff and VHA and UHC member health care organizations Monitor the contracting process to ensure the continued incorporation of safety focused criteria

5 Inclusion of EPP language in the Invitation to Bid (ITB). This information is scored as non- financial criteria in the decision criteria award matrix (DCAM). Mercury elimination PVC and DEHP reduction Total waste volume reduction Take back plans Commitment to Environmental Initiatives

6 Inclusion of environmental safety related criteria in the Rewarding Excellence incentive award for contract managers Established a planning, design and construction initiative reference list of firms that have worked on LEED projects within VHA and UHC healthcare organizations Commitment to Environmental Initiatives

7 Novation’s contract portfolio contains agreements that provide VHA and UHC members access to: Mercury recycling Alternatives to mercury containing products Waste Management Systems Lamp and ballast recycling Reprocessing agreements between third parties and the VHA and UHC alliances Value added programs from various supplies for recycling programs Purchasing of capital equipment with Energy Star rating Non-polluting products Commitment to Environmental Initiatives

8 Development of Resource Guides Mercury Elimination Resource Guide (August 2002) Managing Pharmaceutical Wastes (February 2003) PVC-DEHP Resource Guide (March 2004) Commitment to Environmental Initiatives

9 Conducted a Mercury Fever Thermometer Exchange for Novation, HPPI and VHA Irving based employees Collected 135 mercury fever thermometers Approximately 2.4 ounces of mercury Enormous employee “knowledge exposure” to the hazards of mercury

10 Novation Questions?