In a web posting April 13, 2004, EPA New England announced it has sent letters to over 250 hospitals announcing its plans to increase enforcement at New England hospitals. The news release notes the effort was based on findings of numerous violations in hospitals in Region 2 in New York and New Jersey. To assist hospitals in the area in their compliance efforts, EPA New England will be hosting a workshop on May 20 in Tyngsboro, Mass. Registration information can be found at Healthcare in New England

EPA also announced the awarding of two grants to Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) to support projects designed to help hospitals comply. PharmEcology Associates, LLC is pleased to be included in a grant to pilot new ways to reduce pharmaceutical waste in hospitals and insure effective disposal. In addition to H2E, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, the NH Department of Environmental Services, the NH Hospital Association, and the EPA will also be involved.

In the press release, Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office, noted “The problem of pharmaceutical waste has just begun to hit the radar screen at most hospitals. We are glad to see these hospital leaders creating an innovative model for this waste stream that can be used by other hospitals and that will reduce the damage to our environment caused by these medical wastes. We expect hospital officials throughout New England to make environmental issues a priority, right up there with good medical care.”

The second grant will be used to train JCAHO inspectors to incorporate environmental compliance and pollution prevention into the accreditation process. A number of healthcare organizations, including the American Hospital Association, are also involved, as is EPA.

For more complete information on the New England initiative, please visit the EPA website at EPA New England Press Releases.