[Pharmwaste] Teleosis Institute Launches SF Bay Area Green Pharmacy Coalition

[Evin Guy]

Teleosis Institute Launches SF Bay Area Green Pharmacy Coalition

 

First-ever coalition of hospital, long-term care, hospice, veterinary,
health clinic and pharmacy professionals is formed around goal of zero
pharmaceutical waste 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

http://www.prlog.org/10214784-teleosis-institute-launches-sf-bay-area-gr
een-pharmacy-coalition.html

 

PRLog (Press Release) - Apr 13, 2009 - Berkeley, CA - The Teleosis
Institute is leading the formation of a bold new coalition of
pharmacists, physicians, dentists, veterinarians, nurses, and other
health care providers to achieve zero pharmaceutical waste here in the
San Francisco Bay Area.   Teleosis, a program of Practice Greenhealth,
is working directly with local institutional stakeholders including
hospitals, long-term care facilities, veterinary clinics, hospice
services, health clinics and pharmacies throughout the Bay Area in an
effort to gain control over pharmaceutical waste and disposal. 

 

"Our initiative is unique in that it catalyzes key stakeholders-the
institutions that handle and dispense pharmaceuticals directly to
patients and consumers-in an effort to broaden the reach of existing
pharmaceutical stewardship," said Dr. Joel Kreisberg, Senior Director of
the Teleosis Institute. "The San Francisco Bay Area Green Pharmacy
Coalition is essentially a product stewardship program with the goal of
including all players in eliminating the pollution caused by the
improper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals." 

 

The SF Bay Area Green Pharmacy Coalition will create safe and secure
methods for collecting and properly disposing of unused drugs, for
consumers as well as patients in healthcare facilities. Medicines that
are flushed down the drain are not removed by the wastewater treatment
plants, which has led to traces of common medications in over 80% of
waterways tested in the U.S. 

 

"The Coalition's goal of zero pharmaceutical waste requires both solid
waste minimization as well as proper disposal within institutions," said
Dr. Kreisberg. "This is effectively achieved by engaging all the primary
stakeholder communities in health care, as well as educating
pharmacists, physicians, dentists, veterinarians, nurses, and allied
health care staff to the benefits of a zero waste constraint," he added.


 

The San Francisco Bay Area Green Pharmacy Coalition's goals are to: 

*   Reduce exposures to pharmaceuticals through collaborative action at
the local level. 

*   Help communities gain an understanding of all the major sources of
exposure to pharmaceuticals. 

*   Work with communities to set priorities for risk reduction
activities. 

*   Create self-sustaining, community-based partnerships that will
continue to improve the local environment. 

 

The Coalition depends on the involvement of a multitude of community
members and organizations to support the goal of zero pharmaceutical
waste in our environment.  Regional and local governmental agencies,
local utility agencies, environmental and public health agencies,
professional associations, pharmaceutical manufacturers and medical
waste transporters are all part of a complete solution to a potentially
very big problem. Dr. Kreisberg says, "If we don't start managing the
waste stream now, we'll be facing a much larger problem, because as the
population ages they use more and more pharmaceuticals.  It's best we
start by developing healthy institutional systems for dealing with
medical waste." 

 

For more information on the SF Bay Area Green Pharmacy Coalition, visit
www.teleosis.org/gpp-coalition.php or contact Evin Guy, Program Manager,
at evin at teleosis.org.

 

# # #

 

About The Teleosis Institute: 

Teleosis Institute is an organization dedicated to reducing healthcare's
footprint while broadening its ecological vision. Teleosis believes in a
health care system that conserves natural resources, promotes personal
wellness, and begins with precaution. At the forefront of this
sustainable medical system are health providers who take an active role
in greening healthcare through example, education and advocacy.
www.teleosis.org   

Teleosis is a program of Practice Greenhealth.
www.practicegreenhealth.org  

 

 
Evin Guy
Program Manager 
Teleosis Institute | www.teleosis.org <http://www.teleosis.org/>  |
evin at teleosis.org <mailto:evin at teleosis.org>  | (510) 558-7285 x104
 
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