Anyone who has visited or been admitted to a hospital can quickly conjure up images of a sterile, artificial environment that does not welcome the natural world. But just as the unfolding Eastern renaissance in the health care industry has invited such practices as acupuncture and meditation into mainstream medicine, so too has it helped to open a window onto the industry's interdependence with nature. A group of committed healthcare professionals is opening that window even wider via the resource organizations called Health Care Without Harm and Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E). These affinity groups provide resources for medical professionals and administrators who would like to incorporate more environmentally friendly practices into their operations. This spring during the annual "everyone think about the planet" month of April, Health Care Without Harm, H2E and several other sponsors will host the conference CleanMed 2006. The conference will include: a workshop series on bringing more sustainable cuisine to hospitals; posters and workshops on green building practices; and an awards ceremony that recognizes environmental leaders in the health care field. See previous TH posts on Healthy Hospital Food and Eco-Friendly Clinics.

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