Sustainable Hospitals - Mercury Reduction

F.F. Thompson Hospital, Canandaigua, New York

F.F. Thompson Hospital has not had a formal mercury pollution prevention policy, has not had a formal educational program, and has not had a mercury pollution prevention "champion." And yet Thompson has eliminated almost all uses of mercury from the facility. Thompson began its informal mercury pollution prevention program in 1990 because of the recognition that mercury products can be hazardous to employees and patients, especially where there is a high potential for breakage. Other incentives were the reduction of mercury disposal costs, the avoidance of mercury spill cleanups, and the difficulty of complying with OSHA requirements for the use of mercury.

The pollution prevention program began with the phase-out of sphygmomanometers, which was completed in 1993. The Hospital has also:

Discontinued the use of mercury thermometers, except in isolation units, because the electronic thermometers were considered to be a better technology overall.
Discontinued the use of mercury stains in order to eliminate discharge of the stains to wastewater.
Replaced or are replacing mercury gastrointestinal tubes with tungsten tubes.
Eliminated the use of mercury batteries because newer equipment came with mercury-free batteries.

There are some factors that eased Thompson's transition to mercury-free. Thompson Hospital empowers its associates to make decisions, thus hastening the time to move a project from the idea phase to the implementation phase. Thompson Hospital is a relatively new facility. Therefore, it has been easy to ensure that electrical equipment, such as switches and thermostats, are mercury-free. Thompson's small to medium size may be an advantage over a larger hospital. It is easier to make changes in a smaller hospital because it has a smaller inventory. Also, a smaller hospital may use a smaller variety of materials.