I’ve always been interested in issues of sustainability. Admittedly, I’m usually the guy pulling bottles and cans out of the trash or trying to get the office to start a recycling program. In early 2011, my interests led me to Eureka Recycling, a local non-profit recycling provider and zero-waste advocacy organization, working as their recycled paper co-op intern. At our annual steward summit an organization called the BlueGreen Alliance came to speak to our group. BlueGreen Alliance is a national organization that is a coalition of unions and environmental groups, working towards common goals of sustainability and promoting jobs in the green economy. I remembered their name as participants of Eureka’s paper co-op, so I engaged them after the presentation as to how I could get involved. With the support of SEIU I was encouraged to work at BGA part time, and I began working at BGA on a variety of sustainability issues pertaining to the healthcare industry.
My time at BGA has led to the engagement of my own hospital and greater Allina network. The first of what I am hoping leads to a variety of green healthcare initiatives is to address the use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) cups and dinnerware in Allina facilities.
Even today as most major corporations like McDonalds and Starbucks have committed to eliminating polystyrene, many people don’t fully realize the environmental impact from the production and disposal of these products. Polystyrene is one of the largest contributors of hazardous waste, polluting our air and waterways, threatening the ecosystem and depleting the ozone. As a virtually indestructible product, polystyrene takes centuries to decompose. This means as landfills deteriorate, these harmful substances will leak back into our soil and water supplies. The Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education estimates that up to one third of all matter in landfills is polystyrene. If combusted, it releases 57 chemical byproducts into our air, including carbon monoxide. As one of the largest contributors to pollution in our waterways, over 100 U.S., Canadian, European and Asian coastal cities have officially banned the use of these products. Polystyrene is also made with chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC’s) that deplete the ozone and contribute to global warming at 1,000 times the rate of carbon dioxide.
So there are plenty of environmental and indirect health implications regarding the use of polystyrene. However, what isn’t as widely recognized is the vast amount of health affects regarding the people manufacturing these products and the even greater population of people who use these products every day. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Health included styrene, the building block of polystyrene to its list of human carcinogens. The health hazards of styrene exposure range from affects on the mucus membrane, gastrointestinal problems, central nervous system dysfunction, hearing loss, depression, eye irritation and fatigue. There are also studies that suggest exposure increases the risk of leukemia, lymphoma, pregnancy complications and menstrual disorders.
Chronic exposure is a huge health hazard to the workers who manufacture these products but there is a growing concern for the health implications for those who use these products every day in offices, cafeterias and restaurants. Especially when heated or microwaved, polystyrene products begin to leach hazardous chemicals back into the contents that they are holding. So in addition to polluting our water, air and soil we are also slowly affecting our health, simply for convenience.
I urge everyone to think about these realities the next time you microwave your lunch, buy some soup or coffee from the cafeteria, or are giving a patient or visitor a drink of water, all using polystyrene products. We dedicate our lives to patient care and the safety of our fellow coworkers. We stress the importance of preventative healthcare measures and feel the economic pressures of patient satisfaction surveys (HCAHPS). We commit ourselves to community outreach and giving. However, all of these things are compromised by something as seemingly insignificant as what kind of containers we eat and drink from. As healthcare workers I think we are in a unique position of authority and responsibility to maintain a leadership role in every area of patient care.
This is not to suggest that this is a simple issue. The economic and logistic obstacles of implementing an alternative are very real. Change takes time and often requires public education and political will. However, success is not unprecedented. I liken this to past issues, such as moving to smoke-free facilities or making the commitment to go mercury-free. Both took time to implement and came with economic obstacles. However, when considering the health and well-being of patients, visitors, staff and the greater community these obstacles become manageable.
Peter Mielech is a transport Aide at United Hospital and a SEIU union steward.
Corporate Valuation of Profit over People by “Nonprofit” Hospitals Puts Patient Privacy at Risk
Caregivers from Fairview and North Memorial Medical Center were shocked to learn that private information on nearly 17,000 patients was potentially compromised when a laptop belonging to an Accretive Health Inc., a debt collections and revenue cycle subcontractor, was stolen. The data loss has now earned Fairview and North Memorial a spot on the federal government’s “Wall of Shame” for failing to meet patient privacy standards.
“It really disturbs me that Fairview and North Memorial executives would apparently put patient privacy at risk in their corporate drive for profits at what is supposed to be a non-profit hospital that cares for the community,” said Maxine Maxon, a nursing assistant at Fairview Riverside.
“Patient privacy and quality care is my number one concern when I’m at the bedside. By hiring a debt collections subcontractor that already has been sued 10 times in the last year for alleged unfair collections practices, Fairview and North Memorial have put corporate values ahead of their mission as nonprofit community hospitals,” said Trina Ross, a nursing assistant at North Memorial Medical Center.
Updated 6/30/11 12:15pm
Will the shutdown affect my hospital, clinic, or nursing home?
The short answer is yes. Our facilities rely heavily on state funding to operate and a government shutdown will likely interfere with payments from the state. Right now, the courts are hearing arguments to keep essential services running even if the state government shuts down, but a final ruling has not yet been made. Stay tuned for more updates as information becomes available. Judge Gearin ruled on June 29th that the State will continue to make Medicaid/MA and MNCare payments to hospitals and nursing homes.
Will I get paid during the shutdown?
We will continue to enforce our collective bargaining agreements during any government shutdown including applicable payday and wage provisions.
I’m a licensed healthcare worker. How will the shutdown affect me?
The Minnesota Board of Nursing and the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice have said that licensed health-care professionals will not be able to renew their licenses during a government shutdown, which would occur July 1 if the governor and Legislature fail to reach a budget agreement by June 30. Therefore, any professionals whose licenses expire during a shutdown – be they nurses, pharmacists, etc. – will then be unable to practice.
Why is the state government facing a shutdown?
The Republican majority in the legislature passed a budget with $1 billion in funding losses for our hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. Governor Dayton vetoed that budget, and now the state faces a shutdown. If the Republican budget passed, it would put thousands of our jobs at risk and cut off thousands of Minnesotans from access to basic medical care. Worst of all, it would balance the budget on the backs of our seniors and people with disabilities – which is exactly what these legislators promised not to do. Governor Dayton’s budget proposal asks the richest 2% of Minnesotans to pay more so we can maintain quality healthcare and long-term care. The rest of us would not pay a dime more in taxes.
What can I do to speak out against the shutdown?
Join SEIU and our allies at a Shutdown Eve vigil on Thursday, June 30th from 9pm-11pm on the steps of the Capitol. RSVP here.
In balloting that was counted early Tuesday morning, 32 EMTs, paramedics, LPNs, medical laboratory technicians, medical laboratory technologists, surgical technologists, radiology technologists, ultrasound technologists, physical therapy assistants, and phlebotomists at Rivers Edge Hospital voted overwhelmingly to unite with their co-workers for a voice on the job. Workers united together to address critical patient care delivery issues and to create a unified voice to enact ideas designed to save money for the public critical access hospital.
“I voted yes to form our union for a voice in decision making, so we can give the best patient care possible,” said Trevor Blaine, paramedic.
“When Employees voices can be heard and both employees and administration can work with open minds, good things can be accomplished. That’s why I supported forming a union at Rivers Edge” said Kristyn Carson, Medical Laboratory Technician.
Trevor Blaine explained further why he stood together with his co-workers: “I take great pride in working as a paramedic and being able to have the privilege to help serve my community. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to help people in their time of need. Therefore, in order for my coworkers and myself to do what we know is best for treating our patients, through training and experience, it is very important and essential that we have a voice in the decision-making, which is why I feel it is imperative to be represented by SEIU Healthcare. Since we employees are the people that are responsible for direct patient care and patient outcomes, decisions made without hearing our input, ideas, or concerns is not only unfair to our patients, but adds even more unneeded stress to an already stressful job.”
Daily Kos Labor