How the Country’s 4th
Largest Health Care
Facility Became #1
In Being Green
Largest Health Care
Facility Became #1
In Being Green
The Greening of Hackensack University Medical Center
April 08, 2009
by Robert Garment, Executive Editor
This story originally appeared in the April 2009 issue of DOTmed Business News
Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) is an impressive complex of 14 buildings spread over several acres. At its heart is a 775-bed teaching and research hospital affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School.
HUMC has more than 7,200 employees and an annual budget of over $1 billion. There are more than 1,400 physicians and dentists on staff. HUMC is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state of New Jersey, and it's a very busy place. For example, in 2008 alone at HUMC there were more than:
· 6,200 babies born
· 76,000 inpatient admissions
· 77,000 CT scans performed
· 105,000 visits to the emergency room
· 5,347,000 pathology procedures performed.
This award-winning facility that has just about everything is missing the one thing most other hospitals have in abundance: that pervasive, not-so-pleasant "hospital smell." And for that, the patients, visitors, and staff alike have environmental advocate Deirdre Imus to thank.
How fast can you turn around an ocean liner?
To get a facility the size of HUMC to make any large-scale change - such as revamping their entire housekeeping process - is a daunting undertaking. It's somewhat akin to turning around an ocean liner steaming at flank speed.
So what kind of person would approach HUMC's President and CEO to convince him to "green" such a bustling facility - particularly given the rigorous standards for cleanliness a hospital must maintain?
Meet Deirdre Imus, and learn what makes her tick
Deirdre Imus began to take a serious interest in the correlation between the environment and an individual's health when she was attending college at Villanova. "Because I was involved in athletics at school, I wanted to be as fit as possible. I learned how variations in my diet could affect my performance on the track. I paid attention to the food I ate, and it was easy to extend that concept to all the things that could affect my health, and of course, that's everything you come in contact with on a daily basis," Mrs. Imus
observed. "From what I learned, I became a vegetarian, and have been for about 25 years now."
Meanwhile, back at the Ranch...
In 1992, Deirdre met Don Imus, the noted radio talk show personality. The two soon married, and because they were both committed to helping children battle cancer, they started the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer in 1998.
"The concept behind the Ranch was to create a pristine environment for the children - from all-natural building materials, to growing our own organic food without insecticides. We also teach them that they're normal children, who happen to be sick, and that they can do pretty much what any kids do, given the right environment and encouragement," Mrs. Imus shared. "At one point during the second year we were at the Ranch, a question occurred to me: was the typical hospital environment - where many of these kids spent a lot of time being treated - healthy, particularly since they are cleaned 24/7? That well-known 'hospital smell' made me think not, and further research proved that was definitely the case," Mrs. Imus concluded. And she set out to do something about it.
The moment of truth
Mrs. Imus went to the President and CEO of Hackensack University Medical Center, John Ferguson, with a thick folder filled with facts documenting the toxic ingredients in conventional cleaning products. She also made the case that housekeeping tends to overuse harsh disinfectants to clean just about everything and anything. "I was ready for a whole lot of skepticism on his part. He could have said, 'You're crazy, go away,' but about five minutes into our discussion he essentially said 'Deirdre, you're right, these products are noxious, and if you can deliver a natural solution that's as effective, then do it.' And that's how 'Greening The Cleaning' was born," Mrs. Imus recalled.
Getting the go-ahead to 'green the cleaning' was one thing. Developing a new line of cleaning products that would meet the high standards within a hospital was an even bigger challenge. "When we came in with the formulations we developed from all-natural, non-toxic ingredients, they were put through Hackensack's rigorous efficacy testing. The results of those tests were extremely satisfying to me because our Greening The Cleaning (GTC) formulations not only exceeded the necessary standards, they actually did better than many of the harsh chemical cleaners which were in daily use," Mrs. Imus noted with pride.
Cleaning more than 3.4 million square feet on a regular basis
The 14 buildings on HUMC's campus contain approximately 3.4 million sq. ft. of floor space - not to mention all the windows, walls, and other cleanable areas. That's a great deal of real estate. And all of it is cleaned with GTC products.
It's the job of Alan Lee, Administrative Director of Information and Guest Services, Environmental Services, and Operator Services for HUMC, to oversee housekeeping. He says, "HUMC is totally committed to the GTC program. I came on board about a year after the transition to GTC products was made and from that day to this, when you come to Hackensack University Medical Center, it doesn't smell like you're in a hospital. To me, that is the sweet smell of success."
While most of HUMC's buildings are cleaned by on-staff employees, some cleaning services are provided by outside contractors. "It's stipulated in those contracts that the outside vendors must use GTC products. And not surprisingly, they're happy to do so," Mr. Lee noted.
Yes, disinfectants are used, as needed, in conjunction with the GTC Program
"I want people to understand that the GTC products are not the only cleaning products we use," Mr. Lee observed. "There are situations in the hospitals that call for the use of a disinfectant. Many hospitals use bleach-based disinfectants, which are very harsh. The one we use at HUMC is TBQ from Steris, an EPA approved quaternary-ammonia based product. We use TBQ, as a disinfectant, in concert with GTC products in all patient rooms during terminal cleaning, so we do both a thorough and environmentally responsible jobs. Since HUMC has had one of the best outcome records for any hospital over the last five years, that's proof using GTC products does not compromise our patients' health. In fact, GTC has helped contribute to those better outcomes, so the products are time-tested and proven," Mr. Lee added.
2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region-2 Quality Award
HUMC has received many awards for excellence in healthcare. The GTC program has added to that total. In 2006, the regional office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized both Hackensack University Medical Center and The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology for their contributions to environmental health. And in April, 2008 the New Jersey Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council bestowed its first Green Product Award on the Greening the Cleaning line of non-toxic commercial cleaners.
Changing the long-held notion of what "clean" smells like
Mrs. Imus noted that, "one of the ironic challenges we face when convincing people they should use GTC products is that one of their greatest benefits, the lack of a noxious odor, goes against the commonly-held perception that cleaning products should have a bleach-like or ammonia-like odor. What 'clean' should smell like should be the absence of odor, and not the smell that comes from harsh detergents and the other products we typically clean our homes and businesses with," she added.
A facility can go green in just 7 to 14 days
Transitioning to the GTC program is quite easy. HUMC was the first hospital to do it, and since then, approximately 500 business enterprises have gone GTC green. This includes over 70 health care facilities, including multiple hospital systems, more than 100 schools and school systems, and hundreds of other businesses and corporations.
"Since the housekeeping personnel are essentially replacing offending cleaners with benign GTC products, their training period is short and easy," Mrs. Imus said. "Our GTC Team comes in to do the training. And basically, that involves showing housekeeping personnel which GTC product is best for a given job."
A safer environment and better morale for staff
One of the common problems with the harshness of standard cleaning products is that housekeeping staff sometimes have allergic reactions to the products. "Since the GTC program was instituted, staff is no longer exposed to toxic chemicals that could potentially cause reactions," says Mr. Lee, "this lets all our employees enjoy a better work environment."
Going green can save up to 30% or more on housekeeping products
"Most people today assume that 'organic' and 'all-natural' products are more expensive," Mrs. Imus observes, "but that's not the case with GTC products at all. Switching to GTC is at least budget-neutral, and in many situations significant savings are realized on an annual basis," she adds. For instance, Ray Garcia, Director Environmental Services, Silver Hill Hospital, New Canaan, CT, said they save about 20% annually using GTC products. And Luann DeFalco, Manager Environmental Services, St. Vincent's Hall Brook Behavioral Center, Bridgeport, CT, said they are realizing an annual savings of 33%.
100% of the profits from GTC sales goes directly to charity
All profits from sales of institutional GTC products go to education and research to identify, control and ultimately prevent environmental factors that may cause pediatric cancer and other health problems among children. 100% of the profits from the retail GTC line go to the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer.
The Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer
The Imus Ranch is an authentic, 4,000 acre cattle ranch located near Ribera, NM, approximately 50 miles northeast of Santa Fe. Ten times a year for two-week sessions, the Ranch welcomes children suffering from cancer, serious blood disorders, and those who have lost siblings to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The Ranch is a 501(3)(c) charity financed by Don Imus' fundraising efforts, and by 100% of the profits from Deirdre Imus' retail Greening The Cleaning (GTC) product line and Imus Ranch food products.
The Imuses make sure that parents and their children understand the Ranch's fundamental philosophy. It is not your typical summer camp - at all. Or as Don Imus, in his own eloquent, understated way puts it, "This is not Camp Happy Face." The children work from dawn to dusk doing the jobs of real cowboys and cowgirls. They round up horses and Texas Longhorns, herd and feed sheep, buffalo, chickens, goats and donkeys, and also learn to rope and tie a calf.
Don and Deirdre Imus personally spend each day with the children at the Ranch. They say their objective is to encourage the children to experience a sense of achievement, responsibility and selfesteem through hard work and fun, while restoring their pride and dignity. Many children are convinced that because they are sick they are not normal, but at the Imus Ranch they quickly discover they can do anything any other kid can do.
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology was founded in 2001. Its creation was inspired by Mrs. Imus' concern for children's health and the success in the greening of Hackensack University Medical Center.
In Mrs. Imus' own words, the mission of the Center is, "to identify, control, and ultimately prevent exposure to the environmental toxins that are causing children to become sick - that's the bottom line."
Deirdre and the staff strive to bring about fundamental health improvements in the lives of children today and in generations to come. Through their education and outreach programs, they help disseminate information for parents and the community. They formed a task force to investigate the reported high incidence of autism and other learning disorders among children born to teachers working at a school in New Jersey. They are also leading a clinical study to investigate a pesticide-free alternative to traditional head lice treatments.
The Center also has a dedicated Greening The Cleaning (GTC) Team that helps hospitals, schools, and other facilities transition to the award-winning GTC program - which typically can be achieved in 7 to 14 days.
Marketing for the GTC program includes an array of new distributor and customer support initiatives. Their evolving network has global reach. Towards this end, The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center has recently partnered with a number of organizations that employ the disabled, blind and visually impaired. These business partners provide complete customer service and order fulfillment activities for GTC's growing list of institutional clients.
Contact the Center to talk about environmental issues or concerns, or inquire about the Greening The Cleaning program.
HOW TO CONTACT THE CENTER:
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology
Hackensack University Medical Center
Research Building, Room 240
30 Prospect Avenue
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (201) 336-8071
Fax: (201) 336-8161
www.dienviro.com
Email: dimus@humed.com
Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) is an impressive complex of 14 buildings spread over several acres. At its heart is a 775-bed teaching and research hospital affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School.
HUMC has more than 7,200 employees and an annual budget of over $1 billion. There are more than 1,400 physicians and dentists on staff. HUMC is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state of New Jersey, and it's a very busy place. For example, in 2008 alone at HUMC there were more than:
· 6,200 babies born
· 76,000 inpatient admissions
· 77,000 CT scans performed
· 105,000 visits to the emergency room
· 5,347,000 pathology procedures performed.
This award-winning facility that has just about everything is missing the one thing most other hospitals have in abundance: that pervasive, not-so-pleasant "hospital smell." And for that, the patients, visitors, and staff alike have environmental advocate Deirdre Imus to thank.
How fast can you turn around an ocean liner?
To get a facility the size of HUMC to make any large-scale change - such as revamping their entire housekeeping process - is a daunting undertaking. It's somewhat akin to turning around an ocean liner steaming at flank speed.
So what kind of person would approach HUMC's President and CEO to convince him to "green" such a bustling facility - particularly given the rigorous standards for cleanliness a hospital must maintain?
Greening The Cleaning products
are so safe to use, they're
used inside the nursery
full of newborns at the
Women's and Children's
Pavilion at Hackensack.
are so safe to use, they're
used inside the nursery
full of newborns at the
Women's and Children's
Pavilion at Hackensack.
Meet Deirdre Imus, and learn what makes her tick
Deirdre Imus began to take a serious interest in the correlation between the environment and an individual's health when she was attending college at Villanova. "Because I was involved in athletics at school, I wanted to be as fit as possible. I learned how variations in my diet could affect my performance on the track. I paid attention to the food I ate, and it was easy to extend that concept to all the things that could affect my health, and of course, that's everything you come in contact with on a daily basis," Mrs. Imus
observed. "From what I learned, I became a vegetarian, and have been for about 25 years now."
Meanwhile, back at the Ranch...
In 1992, Deirdre met Don Imus, the noted radio talk show personality. The two soon married, and because they were both committed to helping children battle cancer, they started the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer in 1998.
"The concept behind the Ranch was to create a pristine environment for the children - from all-natural building materials, to growing our own organic food without insecticides. We also teach them that they're normal children, who happen to be sick, and that they can do pretty much what any kids do, given the right environment and encouragement," Mrs. Imus shared. "At one point during the second year we were at the Ranch, a question occurred to me: was the typical hospital environment - where many of these kids spent a lot of time being treated - healthy, particularly since they are cleaned 24/7? That well-known 'hospital smell' made me think not, and further research proved that was definitely the case," Mrs. Imus concluded. And she set out to do something about it.
The moment of truth
Mrs. Imus went to the President and CEO of Hackensack University Medical Center, John Ferguson, with a thick folder filled with facts documenting the toxic ingredients in conventional cleaning products. She also made the case that housekeeping tends to overuse harsh disinfectants to clean just about everything and anything. "I was ready for a whole lot of skepticism on his part. He could have said, 'You're crazy, go away,' but about five minutes into our discussion he essentially said 'Deirdre, you're right, these products are noxious, and if you can deliver a natural solution that's as effective, then do it.' And that's how 'Greening The Cleaning' was born," Mrs. Imus recalled.
Getting the go-ahead to 'green the cleaning' was one thing. Developing a new line of cleaning products that would meet the high standards within a hospital was an even bigger challenge. "When we came in with the formulations we developed from all-natural, non-toxic ingredients, they were put through Hackensack's rigorous efficacy testing. The results of those tests were extremely satisfying to me because our Greening The Cleaning (GTC) formulations not only exceeded the necessary standards, they actually did better than many of the harsh chemical cleaners which were in daily use," Mrs. Imus noted with pride.
Cleaning more than 3.4 million square feet on a regular basis
The 14 buildings on HUMC's campus contain approximately 3.4 million sq. ft. of floor space - not to mention all the windows, walls, and other cleanable areas. That's a great deal of real estate. And all of it is cleaned with GTC products.
During our tour of Hackensack,
we came across a typical
housekeeper's cart, which, as
Mrs. Imus proudly displays,
is full of Greening
The Cleaning products.
we came across a typical
housekeeper's cart, which, as
Mrs. Imus proudly displays,
is full of Greening
The Cleaning products.
It's the job of Alan Lee, Administrative Director of Information and Guest Services, Environmental Services, and Operator Services for HUMC, to oversee housekeeping. He says, "HUMC is totally committed to the GTC program. I came on board about a year after the transition to GTC products was made and from that day to this, when you come to Hackensack University Medical Center, it doesn't smell like you're in a hospital. To me, that is the sweet smell of success."
While most of HUMC's buildings are cleaned by on-staff employees, some cleaning services are provided by outside contractors. "It's stipulated in those contracts that the outside vendors must use GTC products. And not surprisingly, they're happy to do so," Mr. Lee noted.
Yes, disinfectants are used, as needed, in conjunction with the GTC Program
"I want people to understand that the GTC products are not the only cleaning products we use," Mr. Lee observed. "There are situations in the hospitals that call for the use of a disinfectant. Many hospitals use bleach-based disinfectants, which are very harsh. The one we use at HUMC is TBQ from Steris, an EPA approved quaternary-ammonia based product. We use TBQ, as a disinfectant, in concert with GTC products in all patient rooms during terminal cleaning, so we do both a thorough and environmentally responsible jobs. Since HUMC has had one of the best outcome records for any hospital over the last five years, that's proof using GTC products does not compromise our patients' health. In fact, GTC has helped contribute to those better outcomes, so the products are time-tested and proven," Mr. Lee added.
2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region-2 Quality Award
HUMC has received many awards for excellence in healthcare. The GTC program has added to that total. In 2006, the regional office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized both Hackensack University Medical Center and The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology for their contributions to environmental health. And in April, 2008 the New Jersey Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council bestowed its first Green Product Award on the Greening the Cleaning line of non-toxic commercial cleaners.
Changing the long-held notion of what "clean" smells like
Mrs. Imus noted that, "one of the ironic challenges we face when convincing people they should use GTC products is that one of their greatest benefits, the lack of a noxious odor, goes against the commonly-held perception that cleaning products should have a bleach-like or ammonia-like odor. What 'clean' should smell like should be the absence of odor, and not the smell that comes from harsh detergents and the other products we typically clean our homes and businesses with," she added.
A facility can go green in just 7 to 14 days
Transitioning to the GTC program is quite easy. HUMC was the first hospital to do it, and since then, approximately 500 business enterprises have gone GTC green. This includes over 70 health care facilities, including multiple hospital systems, more than 100 schools and school systems, and hundreds of other businesses and corporations.
"Since the housekeeping personnel are essentially replacing offending cleaners with benign GTC products, their training period is short and easy," Mrs. Imus said. "Our GTC Team comes in to do the training. And basically, that involves showing housekeeping personnel which GTC product is best for a given job."
A safer environment and better morale for staff
One of the common problems with the harshness of standard cleaning products is that housekeeping staff sometimes have allergic reactions to the products. "Since the GTC program was instituted, staff is no longer exposed to toxic chemicals that could potentially cause reactions," says Mr. Lee, "this lets all our employees enjoy a better work environment."
Going green can save up to 30% or more on housekeeping products
"Most people today assume that 'organic' and 'all-natural' products are more expensive," Mrs. Imus observes, "but that's not the case with GTC products at all. Switching to GTC is at least budget-neutral, and in many situations significant savings are realized on an annual basis," she adds. For instance, Ray Garcia, Director Environmental Services, Silver Hill Hospital, New Canaan, CT, said they save about 20% annually using GTC products. And Luann DeFalco, Manager Environmental Services, St. Vincent's Hall Brook Behavioral Center, Bridgeport, CT, said they are realizing an annual savings of 33%.
100% of the profits from GTC sales goes directly to charity
All profits from sales of institutional GTC products go to education and research to identify, control and ultimately prevent environmental factors that may cause pediatric cancer and other health problems among children. 100% of the profits from the retail GTC line go to the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer.
The Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer
The Imus Ranch is an authentic, 4,000 acre cattle ranch located near Ribera, NM, approximately 50 miles northeast of Santa Fe. Ten times a year for two-week sessions, the Ranch welcomes children suffering from cancer, serious blood disorders, and those who have lost siblings to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The Ranch is a 501(3)(c) charity financed by Don Imus' fundraising efforts, and by 100% of the profits from Deirdre Imus' retail Greening The Cleaning (GTC) product line and Imus Ranch food products.
Don and Deirdre Imus spending
time with children at
The Imus Ranch.
time with children at
The Imus Ranch.
The Imuses make sure that parents and their children understand the Ranch's fundamental philosophy. It is not your typical summer camp - at all. Or as Don Imus, in his own eloquent, understated way puts it, "This is not Camp Happy Face." The children work from dawn to dusk doing the jobs of real cowboys and cowgirls. They round up horses and Texas Longhorns, herd and feed sheep, buffalo, chickens, goats and donkeys, and also learn to rope and tie a calf.
Don and Deirdre Imus personally spend each day with the children at the Ranch. They say their objective is to encourage the children to experience a sense of achievement, responsibility and selfesteem through hard work and fun, while restoring their pride and dignity. Many children are convinced that because they are sick they are not normal, but at the Imus Ranch they quickly discover they can do anything any other kid can do.
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology was founded in 2001. Its creation was inspired by Mrs. Imus' concern for children's health and the success in the greening of Hackensack University Medical Center.
In Mrs. Imus' own words, the mission of the Center is, "to identify, control, and ultimately prevent exposure to the environmental toxins that are causing children to become sick - that's the bottom line."
Deirdre and the staff strive to bring about fundamental health improvements in the lives of children today and in generations to come. Through their education and outreach programs, they help disseminate information for parents and the community. They formed a task force to investigate the reported high incidence of autism and other learning disorders among children born to teachers working at a school in New Jersey. They are also leading a clinical study to investigate a pesticide-free alternative to traditional head lice treatments.
The Deirdre Imus
Environmental Center
for Pediatric Oncology
Environmental Center
for Pediatric Oncology
The Center also has a dedicated Greening The Cleaning (GTC) Team that helps hospitals, schools, and other facilities transition to the award-winning GTC program - which typically can be achieved in 7 to 14 days.
Marketing for the GTC program includes an array of new distributor and customer support initiatives. Their evolving network has global reach. Towards this end, The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center has recently partnered with a number of organizations that employ the disabled, blind and visually impaired. These business partners provide complete customer service and order fulfillment activities for GTC's growing list of institutional clients.
Contact the Center to talk about environmental issues or concerns, or inquire about the Greening The Cleaning program.
HOW TO CONTACT THE CENTER:
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology
Hackensack University Medical Center
Research Building, Room 240
30 Prospect Avenue
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (201) 336-8071
Fax: (201) 336-8161
www.dienviro.com
Email: dimus@humed.com