Description
SPH is a 63-bed public hospital that incinerates their medical waste offsite.

Purchasing Practices
SPH is under contract with a GPO and can choose from their "full line" of products. Department heads, along with purchasing agents, make the final decision on product selection.

HCEPT Implementation
The facility selected four products to analyze using the tool (see Table 1). They sent the tool to three suppliers, for a total of four product inquiries. One supplier was selected for two products (primary IV tubing and pump IV tubing).

Product	Substance of Concern
Blood pressure sphygmomanometer	Mercury
Primary IV tubing	PVC
Pump IV tubing	PVC
Latex gloves	PVC

Table 1: Selected products for SPH in HCEPT study.

The tool was sent twice to each supplier, directly to the sales representative that the purchasing agent regularly works with when placing orders. On the second request, the tool was included with a purchase order.

Supplier Response
No responses were received from the suppliers SPH surveyed using the HCEPT.

Impact of HCEPT on Facility
The hospital replaced all seven of their mercury-containing blood pressure sphygmomanometers with mercury-free sphygmomanometers. Each of these devices contained about five ounces of mercury. Total reduction in mercury was 35 ounces, or about 1000 grams.

Reactions to the Tool and Future Actions
SPH reports that "the sections of the tool that explained the environmental concerns associated with mercury and PVC influenced interest in developing an environmental policy for the hospital. The project also had positive influence on raising awareness about on site incineration concerns."

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