Medical Institutions | Pennsylvania Road Salt Action

How to Approach a Hospital or Medical Institution

If you notice excessive salt use at a hospital or medical facility, you have an opportunity to support patient safety, public health, and responsible winter maintenance practices.

Over application of salt in parking lots and on sidewalks can actually reduce traction, and increase the risk of slips and falls for patients, staff, and visitors. Excessive use of deicers can also lead to costly infrastructure damage, including deterioration of concrete surfaces in multi-story parking decks, corrosion of automatic door systems, damage to interior flooring and landscaping. In addition, salt can contaminate local drinking water sources by increasing sodium levels which could pose health risks for individuals with hypertension and others on sodium-restricted diets.

Rochester Medical Center John McIntyre.png

Photo: John McIntyre

The guide below outlines how to raise concerns effectively, respectfully, and constructively within a healthcare setting. It includes a slide deck you can use: Slide Deck for Medical Institutions

Note: Please let PARSA know about any actions you have taken.

What were your successes and challenges?
Are there any other resources that you need?
Contact us at paroadsaltactionwg@gmail.com

Remember - Always Tailor Your Message to Your Audience:

Health institutions are motivated to reduce road salt use because it improves patient and staff safety, protects public and community health, reduces infrastructure damage and long-term costs, lowers liability risk, and supports their core mission of care. Keeping these priorities in mind will make your advocacy more effective.

Steps for approaching a medical institution about excessive road salt use

Before you take the steps below, it's a good idea to educate yourself on this topic. This video shows how the Mayo Clinic switched to Best Management Practices and reduced their use of road salt by more than 60% while maintaining safety.

Mayo Clinic Says, "Hold the Salt"

1. Observe and document

Gather clear, factual information:

Note where excessive salt is being applied e.g. parking decks, sidewalks, entrances, loading zones. (Salt crystals should be approximately 3 inches apart)
Look for where salt is stored on-site. Is it adequately protected from the elements?
Look inside the building - is salt being tracked into places where it could damage flooring?
Take photos where appropriate

2. Look for chloride data

If there is chloride monitoring data for your area, it can be very persuasive. This type of evidence clearly links road salt use to water quality impacts.

Visit our Researching Chloride in Your Watershed webpage for information about how to find chloride data for creeks in your area.

3. Find the Correct Department

In most hospitals, winter maintenance and deicing fall under:

Facilities Management
Plant Operations
Environmental Services (EVS)

If the Facilities department is hard to reach or unresponsive, you can also check for:

Safety Office
Risk Management
Environmental Health and Safety

4. Request a meeting

In any communication, name the issue "Winter Maintenance Practices" rather than "Excessive Salt Use"

Here is a sample letter that you can use: Sample Letter to a Hospital/Health Network

5. Prepare for the meeting

Find out if there will be a projector available to show a slide deck or if you will need to use notes to speak.

If it is possible to show a slide deck, Slide Deck for Medical Institutions has information about why excessive road salt is a problem, detailed information on BMPs that can be used in medical institutions, along with examples of cost savings. You can customize it with pictures, data etc. you have found from your area. If you read the speaker's notes aloud, you will be able to give an informative and effective presentation.

Before the meeting, check whether you should share your slides electronically, bring a flash drive, or connect your laptop via a USB cable.

Always make sure you bring a printed copy of the speaker's notes in case you are not able to see them on the screen while you are giving your presentation.

If it is not practical to use the slide deck, use these printable talking points to give your presentation