In August of 2000, Indiana Department of Environmental Management with support from IKE and the Indiana Hospital and Health Association announced a new pledge program for hospitals and other healthcare facilities, such as doctor’s offices and nursing homes . The goal of the program was to provide a structure for healthcare facilities to virtually eliminate mercury from the operations and to get recognized for their efforts.

Healthcare facilities making the pledge must:

• Stop distributing mercury thermometers (Yes, some hospitals are still putting them with new baby packages!);
• Inventory all sources of mercury;
• Adopt purchasing policies to reduce and virtually eliminate mercury-containing products;
• Recycle mercury-containing wastes where possible;
• Train employees on safe mercury management;
• Eliminate specific mercury-containing products within 18 months; and
• Educate community on mercury hazards.

For other IKE activities on mercury.