“Green Hospitals” Global climate Change & the Integration of Alternative Medicine into Society Series Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Work Group, Loma Linda, California 92354

B E W A R E! Is your local ‘hospital’ serving fresh, local and organic foods? If not, call the hospital administrator and why! Is your hospital cafeteria clearly discriminating against the ‘vegan’ consumer by having no total vegetarian menus? Is your ‘hospital’ food and cafeterias clearly and properly marking or labeling foods as ‘Vegan’ or ‘Organic’ or ‘Local’ or ‘Fresh’. If not-call the hospital director and ask! Is your hospital cafeteria mixing animal products and/or animal by-products with their ‘vegetarian menus and calling them ‘vegetarian’ which is considered ‘fraud’ and not truly vegetarian and a disgrace to health care. Here are simple test ‘Markers’ of anti-green or non-green hospitals: Caveat emptor! is Latin for "Let the buyer beware!"

“Green Hospitals” 1-6 Criteria Here are the 12 criteria that The Green Guide uses to assess for green hospitals: 1- Siting: Was the hospital sited with consideration for alternative transportation, storm water management, urban redevelopment and reducing any impact on the surrounding environment? 2- Water Efficiency: Is the hospital water-efficient, taking advantage of landscaping, water use reduction and innovative waste water use? 3- Energy and Air Pollution: What has the hospital done to reduce energy consumption and atmospheric pollution, including chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) reductions, renewable energy, reduced energy consumption, green power and reducing ozone? 4- Materials and Resources: Does the hospital use recycled building materials and resources (such as water), local materials or certified wood? 5- Indoor Environmental Quality: What has the hospital done to improve indoor air quality through increased ventilation and incorporating low-VOC paints, adhesives and materials to avoid offgassing of formaldehyde, toluene and other carcinogenic compounds? What steps have been taken to create comfortable temperatures and to enhance daylighting? 6- Healthy Hospital Food: Do patient and staff meals include fresh, local and organic foods? Is the cafeteria food clearly marked, “organic” or “vegan” or labeled with a reputable “health food” manufacturer? Is there a ‘suggestion box’ in the cafeteria? Adapted from http://www.thegreenguide.com/

“Green Hospitals” 6-12 Criteria Continued: the 12 criteria that The Green Guide uses to assess for green hospitals: 6- Healthy Hospital Food: Do patient and staff meals include fresh, local and organic foods? (Does the menu displayed clearly not discriminate against ‘vegans’ and reputable companies who can and do manufacture ‘health foods labeled’?) 7- Green Education: Does the hospital train staff in waste reduction, toxics reduction and recycling? 8- Procurement: Does the hospital seek out recycled paper, water-efficient laundering, energy-efficient equipment or other green products? 9- Contaminants: Does the hospital have a program for reduction of toxics such as mercury and PVC (which can leach toxic plasticizers into fluids in IV drip bags and tubing)? 10- Green Cleaning: Does the hospital use cleaning products that do not release hazardous chemicals? Are staff trained in their use? 11- Waste reduction: Does the hospital have a program to segregate medical waste and to reduce, re-use and recycle general waste and furniture and equipment that are no longer needed? 12- Healing Gardens: Does the hospital have healing gardens where patients, staff and visitors can reflect, relieve stress and reconnect with nature? Are there green roofs? Does the landscaping use native plants, which reduce water consumption and the use of pesticides? Adapted from: http://www.thegreenguide.com/

B E S T C H O I C E Balanced nutrition Exercise Simple natural remedies Trust in the Creator God Cleanliness Hydration/hybernation (rest) Outdoor activities Inner peace for stress reduction Connection to the Community Elimination of harmful substances. Z. L. Carles-Marcel, M.D., Lifestyle Center of America, Sulphur, Oklahoma, U.S.A.