On May 12, 2000, Reid Hospital in Richmond became the first Indiana hospital to resolve to virtually eliminate mercury from its operations by 2005. Mercury is a toxic metal that evaporates into the air and can damage nervous systems. Children are especially sensitive. Mercury is used in many instruments in the healthcare industry. IKE thanked Jerry Swango, Vickie Bryant, and Barry MacDowell of Reid Hospital. Kudos also went to IDEM’s Dave Wintz and Wayne County Health Department’s Lynnette Brown for their work.

The resolution was drawn from the Making Medicine Mercury Free pledge developed by the Healthcare Without Harm organization and a memorandum of understanding between U.S. EPA and the American Hospital Association.

Why was Reid Hospital the first in Indiana? In various meetings and conferences, IKE met with representatives of many other hospitals during the first six months of the pledge program. They were interested but unwilling to take formal action. Overall, the hospitals appeared to be taking positive steps to reduce their use of mercury, but Reid was the first that felt it was important to make a public commitment to its customers and neighbors.

To encourage other hospitals to make similar commitments, IDEM, IKE and the Indiana Hospital Association  developed a more formal pledge program.

Most hospitals won’t make the commitment unless their customers and neighbors make it a priority. So make your desires known! Please ask your local hospital as well as nursing homes and physician’s offices whether they have accepted the pledge!

See IKE's broader effort on mercury for more details.