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ANA State Government Affairs recently participated in two professional conferences to inform nurses and other health care professionals as well as health care management about the ANA/CMA efforts to eliminate the use of mercury in health care. Attendees at the CleanMed Conference from April 18-21 in Seattle, WA and the Women & Children's Health and the Environment Conference on April 24 in Baltimore, MD learned about ANA/CMA state legislative agenda and how ANA and CMAs are increasingly assuming leadership roles on environmental health issues such as eliminating mercury from the health care environment. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that may be virtually eliminated through the use of mercury free alternatives. Rebecca Clouse, MS, RN Environmental Health Liaison for ANA State Government Affairs, explained the ANA/CMA legislative structure and strategies that ANA and CMAs have used to work and advance the movement to eliminate mercury. CleanMed is the premier national conference for environmental health leaders from the health care sector. Health care professionals and other leaders from the health care industry attended the conference to share and learn about outstanding efforts that have been made to reduce waste, eliminate mercury, and improve environmental performance. The Woman & Children's Health and the Environment Conference was sponsored jointly by the ANA organizational affiliate of Association of Women's Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) and five other nursing or environmental health organizations. Nurses and other health professionals attended to learn how chemicals in their home and work environment, such as mercury, can adversely affect them, their children, and their patients along with what actions may be taken to reduce or eliminate these hazardous exposures. For more information about the ANA/CMA Nationwide State Legislative Agenda to Eliminate Mercury From Health Care please contact Rebecca Clouse at rebecca.clouse@ana.org or 301-688-5083. |