Flickr: Optical illusion -The University of Groningen's Medical Facility

By J.D’Abbraccio RN, MSN

The “Green” movement in hospitals has taken finally taken momentum in the United States. More and more hospitals are starting to understand the long term impact of going green. Why is that important? Did you know that the U.S. health care sector accounts for almost one tenth of the country’s carbon-dioxide emissions? A report by University of Chicago researchers published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showed that the health care sector accounted for 16% of U.S. gross domestic product. What was most disturbing was that health care contributed to 8 percent of the United States’ total carbon-dioxide output. The analysis found that hospitals were by far the largest contributor of carbon emission. The researchers attributed this to the high energy demands needed for temperature control, ventilation and lighting in large hospital buildings.

What does it mean to for a hospital to be “Green?”  It means a hospital is trying to be environmentally friendly and proactive about leaving a smaller carbon footprint on the planet. It means they are more efficient with energy by utilizing green technology, such as smart efficient heating and cooling systems, high-efficiency glass, solar panels, LED lights, digital thermostats, low-flow faucets, automatic on/off light switches, recycled products and material to name a few. Also, hospitals are focusing their attention on new ways to be more inventive with waste management and recycling. What kind of impact does a green hospital have on its patients?  Green health care design does promote a more healing environment through more natural daylight, outdoor views, landscaping, improved ventilation, better indoor air quality, efficient lighting, low-impact materials and furnishings, and a more relaxed atmosphere.

Why now? Many health care organizations are starting to really understand the long term financial impact of going green. Besides the numerous environmental and health benefits, the combination of affordable new green products, green grants and tax credits, and potential for huge financial savings are really driving this change. Companies like AMSOLAR (www.amsolarcorp.com ) work on innovative models for educational and medical institutions thinking of best practices and solutions on how to maximize investments made by hospitals who decide to go green. Hospitals can spend millions of dollars monthly just for energy. Why wouldn’t a hospital want to save millions by being more efficient? Hospitals are analyzing up-front costs of green technology and are determining that is will usually balance out against long-term savings. Going green may save millions of dollars over the years. Also, the competition for attracting patients plays a big role too. Many patients are looking for clean, efficient, and up to date rooms while recovering from illness. Being green gives the public an enhanced perception that a health care provider is environmental sensitive and cares about the community.

More and more hospitals are going green. It seems like the green message to save the planet is becoming clearer and clearer everyday. Reduce waste and your carbon footprints wherever you can. As a potential patient/customer, will the green movement affect where you will go for your healthcare? Do you think this will improve the quality of care being delivered? Have you been in a “green” hospital? If so, please share your experience and thoughts.

Flickr:gillianberger

By  J. D’Abbraccio RN,MSN

What are you laughing about?

We have heard the expression time and time again. Laughter is the best medicine. Is it really true? Have you ever walked thru a pediatric or a medical ward in a hospital and noticed clowns or entertainers and thought it was odd? After reading this, you will know why. Scientific evidence has shown to support the effectiveness of humor on one’s health. When was the last time you really had a good long laugh? Do you remember how you felt afterwards? I do. It kind of felt euphoric and relaxing. Why is that?

flickr:edwarddullard

The reason is that physiological responses to a good long laugh include: increased circulation and respiration, lowering of the blood pressure, improved coordination of brain functions, increased number of antibody-producing cells, reduction of stress hormones levels such as adrenaline and dopamine, increased level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins and neurotransmitters, and lowering of glucose level in blood. In more simple terms, we change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch our face and body muscles, our heart rate and blood pressure increase, and we breathe faster. All result in sending more oxygen to our tissues. It has similar benefits and results from exercising. It boosts your energy level, relieves stress and pain, and strengthens your immune system. Laughter is very efficient in bringing your whole body back into equilibrium. Best of all, you don’t need a prescription or money to get this medicine. It is free and always available!

Humor and laughter are great coping mechanisms when it comes to dealing with stress and pain. Whatever your daily routine is, make sure you incorporate humor and laughter throughout your day. Studies have show women laugh on average more than men. We all need to find time to smile. More importantly, your positive attitude will rub off on all your family and friends. Don’t you want them to be healthier also? I know I do. Even if you’re a professional health care provider, it is ok to incorporate humor when providing care. Laughter has shown to be effective with arthritis and cancer patients. It helps motivate and improves pain tolerance.

Helpguide.org is a great informative website which shows the importance of laughter and how if affects our health. I highlighted some benefits below:

Have difficulty laughing? It’s normal. Many people do. Here are some tips on how to make yourself laugh:

*Try watching comedies instead of horror or sad movies.

*Get a joke of the day calendar for your work desk. Share it with co-workers and friends daily.

*Surround yourself around positive people and you will reap the benefits.

*Instead of complaining about life’s frustrations, try to laugh about them. Sometimes it is ok to laugh at silly mistakes. Especially if you are a parent.

Have you ever benefited from laughter/humor therapy? Or do you have a great tip on ways to bring humor to patients? If so, please share your experiences with our readers. We all can learn something new and get a good laugh while doing so.

By Kimberly Mayo-Achan MA, CCC-SLP

Do you give your child a multivitamin every day? Do you make sure they eat their fruits and vegetables to get their daily recommended dose of nutrients? Of course you do, so there is no way your child could be deficient in Vitamin D, right? Think again. According to a new study published in the journal “Pediatrics”, 1 out of every 5 children between the ages of 1 and 11 are not getting enough Vitamin D.

Many of us know that vitamin D plays an important part in keeping our bones and teeth strong and also helps to maintain sufficient blood levels of phosphorus and calcium. What many of us are not aware of, however, is that recent studies revealed that an adequate amount of vitamin D plays a critical role in the prevention of certain infections, diseases such as diabetes, and even certain cancers. Using the guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that 6.4 million children are actually lacking vitamin D. And according to Executive Healthcare Magazine, previous studies have concluded that children lacking vitamin D had increased levels of blood pressure and cholesterol and had a greater likelihood of being overweight. In addition, new evidence shows that getting enough vitamin D may help prevent colds, childhood wheezing, and winter-related eczema.

So there are two questions we need to ask ourselves now. One, why isn’t my child getting an adequate amount of vitamin D and, two,  how can I make sure their intake falls within the recommended guidelines? First let’s address the cause. Simply put, researchers on the online version of the Journal of Pediatrics have found that poor diet and lack of sunshine are the two biggest contributors to this problem. Dr. Michal L. Melamed of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University stated that children today lead a much more inactive lifestyle and limit their time outdoors. He also found that the scare of too much sun exposure has caused parents to keep their children indoors or fully covered when taken outside. The truth is the body uses direct UV-B sunlight to convert a form of cholesterol in the skin into vitamin D. All of these factors combined contribute to over 65% of our children being vitamin D deficient.

The best way to make sure your child is receiving sufficient vitamin D is to enforce a nutrient rich diet by giving them foods such as milk and fish. But these foods alone won’t do the trick. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that infants, children, and teens should take 400 IU per day in supplement form, especially those people who live in areas where the sun may be too weak to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D. Most importantly, shut off that television, computer, or video game and go outside for at least 15-20 minutes each day for direct exposure to sunlight. All that being said, continue to be mindful of your skin and be sure to prevent sunburn or overexposure.

The bottom line is that children today need to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle. And as parents it is our job to implement it. So this afternoon, go out for a catch, a game of baseball, or even a short walk. Enjoy the fresh air, and take comfort in the fact that it is not only good for you mentally, but physically as well!