Health Care Without Harm promotes disease-prevention by
connecting environment and health Participating healthcare
organizations find changing facilities and products can reduce
costs. Patients at Kaiser Permanente’s medical center in
Modesto, Calif., notice many of the hospital’s green features as
soon as they arrive. Wildflowers and native plantings frame the
entryway. Solar panels sprout from the rooftop. Inside, blinds
and window shades admit welcome sunshine in the morning and
minimize unwanted heat in the afternoon. At mealtime, food trays
display an array of fresh fruits and vegetables grown by local
farmers. Other green materials and practices are less visible,
but also contribute to a healthier setting for patients and
staff and to lower overall costs for health insurer Kaiser
Permanente. One of the nation’s largest nonprofit health plans,
Kaiser Permanente operates 35 hospital-based medical centers and
430 medical offices. The company has eliminated PVC – a source
of harmful dioxin and phthalate exp