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Key Research Areas
Through education and outreach, SHP efforts provide hands-on support to abate the growing concern about pollution and health effects in healthcare. SHP supports an array of interests, including individual practitioners, nursing educators and students, nursing unions and organizations, the US Environmental Protection Agency, environmental regulatory agencies of several sates, hospital consortia, and other advocacy and industry groups.
Some key research areas of SHP include:
• Medical Gloves. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that 8% to 12% of regularly exposed health care workers are sensitized to latex. SHP provides education on selection of medical gloves and information on sources of non-latex gloves. By educating practitioners on the selection process rather than on specific gloves, the practitioners become empowered to thoughtfully evaluate the ever-changing array of gloves offered by manufacturers.
• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Mercury. In 1998, the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formed Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) and signed a landmark agreement identifying goals to reduce the impact of health care facilities on the environment. The goals included virtual elimination of mercury from the waste stream by 2005, total waste volume reduction, chemical waste minimization, information on persistent, bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs), and education on pollution prevention. The SHP has actively supported H2E efforts via its website, technical bulletins, and education programs on environmentally preferable purchasing and alternative products.
• Safe Needle Devices (SNDs). The American Nurses Association estimates that health care workers suffer between 600,000 and one million injuries from conventional needles and sharps annually and that over 80% of these could be prevented with safer needle devices. The SHP has researched SNDs and provided education programs on the selection of SNDs.
• Website of Alternative Products, Technical Fact Sheets, and Advice. Purchasing agents need assistance identifying alternative products and manufacturers. In some cases, there is also a need for practical advice. In response, the SHP website provides tables of alternative product information and technical fact sheets to assist practitioners. The SHP also routinely researches and answers practitioner questions about hospital products and practices.
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