New Hospital Regulations - Sault Ste. Marie

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Audra

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Nov 6, 2002
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Sault Ste. Marie
www.mannflorist.com
State / Prov
Ontario
Our local hospital has just made a major change to their policies - we are no longer allowed to send anything to the hospital that is in soil or in floral foam because of mold concerns. Add this to the hospital's ruling of no latex balloons and things are becoming quite limited.

Audra
 
I guess your mom and Gudrun will look at their policy for donation to the new hospital they are trying to raise money for.
I think they should look at the policy of staff doing nothing. I have been there and it seems more people just walk around witth papers or even just talking to other staff memberss then working harder....
It sucks....
Luc
 
Audra said:
Our local hospital has just made a major change to their policies - we are no longer allowed to send anything to the hospital that is in soil or in floral foam because of mold concerns.
Mold concerns? I've only seen foam get moldy once, on a boxwood tree that was at a relative's house for three months. Same with soil, only wet soggy awful soil, and I don't think it was mold, but moss. So, will they ban cookies and bread, too? Or the sandwiches in the vending machines? Mold hazard waiting to happen there. Weird.
tracy
 
I do not remember the name of the flower/agriculture consultant that is at the University in Gainesville Fla but there must be someone who can either come up with an antibacterial/mold solution that is not harmful to flowers that you could incorporate into your flower solution...then show that to the hospital whohass . They have legitimate concerns as to mold as that seems to be a growing issue in the heath community but it takes more than a few days to create a problem so maybe it is a knee jerk reaction from them. Maybe our resident wizard CHR can help....where are you Cathy????? Who is the guy I am thinking about...does he research for syndicate? Indian name I think.
Sher
 
No this fellow is somehow associated with either Syndicate or one of the floral companies...darn, for the life of me I can't remember his name. We sent water samples to him and he helped us adjust our tanks.....I'll see what else I can find out today.
S
 
I know who you're talking about!

Sher said:
I do not remember the name of the flower/agriculture consultant that is at the University in Gainesville Fla

Sher,
His name is Terril Nell, Ph.D. from the University of Florida, Environmental Horticulture Department in Gainesville, Florida. He is currently the SAF Chairman of the Board.

He can be reached at [email protected]
 
My post to the Doc

As florists, we are finding more and more restrictions being placed on us by hospitals across the country. There are some that won't allow latex or mylar balloons. Now the newest thing is no flowers in foam or anything in dirt due to concerns of mold. Do you have any information that could be presented to the hospitals that would allay their concerns or any suggestions that our industry could "add" to their floral solutions to prevent mold and not kill flowers? Any advice would be appreciated.This question was posed by a florist in Sault Ste. Marie, ON but it affects all of us. We are members of the Flowerchat Community (online) and we would love you to visit Flowerchat.com and post any advice that you may feel would be helpful.Thanks for your help,
So maybe Audra will get somne answers that will help all of us!
Thanks Frank....
Sher
 
Sher said:
As florists, we are finding more and more restrictions being placed on us by hospitals across the country. There are some that won't allow latex or mylar balloons. Now the newest thing is no flowers in foam or anything in dirt due to concerns of mold. Do you have any information that could be presented to the hospitals that would allay their concerns or any suggestions that our industry could "add" to their floral solutions to prevent mold and not kill flowers? Any advice would be appreciated.This question was posed by a florist in Sault Ste. Marie, ON but it affects all of us. We are members of the Flowerchat Community (online) and we would love you to visit Flowerchat.com and post any advice that you may feel would be helpful.Thanks for your help,
So maybe Audra will get somne answers that will help all of us!
Thanks Frank....
Sher

That would be keen because this ruling is going to virtually kill the flower deliveries going to hospitals.

Audra
 
Man, around here people are hardly in the hospital long enough for anything to get moldy. I hope we get a response to this issue. It sounds more like not wanting to DEAL with any type of floral deliveries.
 
My QUESTION TO THEM IS: Who will monitor the people ivsiting those guest at the hospital who does not know the rules and bring in Plants or arr in a oasis?
Go ahead ask them that question>
Luc
 
to add to Luc's comment....

seems like many of the hospital flower shops (many manned by volunteers), and losing money, and to be honest, if I WERE the hospital admin, I'd be restricting flower shop orders as well, in favour of impulse buying from THEIR OWN in house shop.
Either way, seems that we too, have to start cutting off hospital and related requests for donations and special event support if that's what it takes.
 
Luc said:
My QUESTION TO THEM IS: Who will monitor the people ivsiting those guest at the hospital who does not know the rules and bring in Plants or arr in a oasis?
Luc

Luc, my thoughts exactly. Our local hospitals restrict balloons, but you see them in the patients' rooms all of the time. I've never seen a visitor stopped from bringing them in. Florist delivery persons are stopped immediately and not dealt with very politely in most cases. We have never, in my memory, been informed of the rule change until we arrive at the hospital bearing the forbidden gift.
 
Mikey the Flower Guy said:
Either way, seems that we too, have to start cutting off hospital and related requests for donations and special event support if that's what it takes.

I concur.

V
 
Off topic but hospital related. On my way to the gym, on a hospital campus here I noticed a new sign. Tabacco Free Campus blah blah blah...September 1st 2006.
I am sure this is already happening across the country so it is probably no big surprise to anyone, but I was thinking while on the treadmill just how in the hell are they going to enforce that new rule?
I, as a smoker have an ailing relative in the hospital and I would like to stay close by. I was fine going outside as it makes total sense not to be smoking in the hospital. But now I have to get in my car and actually leave the property to have a smoke. Or if I do light up outside and at a reasonable distance from any entrance what are they going to do? Put me down like a sick dog, write me a ticket, call the police?
Junk science is my guess. Yes I know cigs are bad for you, but they are still legal and I like them. Hey buddy what are you in for? I lit up outdoors, in front of others
 
Well... as a former smoker (free of it now for four years!!! :):):)), I'm happy to be in a province where smoking is banned in a whole lot of places... any enclosed building (except your own home or car), outdoor patios where there is an awning or a roof of some sort, near doorways of public buildings and the like.

I always found it incredibly ironic, even as a smoker, when entering the hospital having to pass a gauntlet of smokers attached to IV poles, wheelchairs, seizure monitors etc. It makes sense to me for the hospitals to ban smoking on the property. It also makes sense to ban the sale of cigarettes in phamacies (like here). However, it doesn't make sense to ban flowers... that's just nuts!

V
 
Sometimes when the explantion is offered it is easier to understand. We had an event at a convention center here in town...we sold bouquets, plush and "balloons" to the participants. Well, we had ordered about 200 mylars specific to the occassion....only to find out that if one mylar got loose and hit the very tall ceilings, it would trigger the sprinkler system....and we would have been responsible for the water cleanup. We left the ballloons in the vans...lol......so next year...no balloons. Would have never occured to me that balloons could creat that kind of issue. As far as smoking, the current studies are showing that second hand smoke is very dangerous and the stats on it are rapidly climbing. They are probably concerned about that issue as well as being sued for not alerting the community and having someone sue them for getting second hand smoke cancer....
As far as the mold thing..sure wish we could get something scientific but I am also curious if they will stop a visitor from bringing in something....and if their gift shops will stop selling flowers and dishgardens.Could be considered a self-serving restriction iof they don't.
Sher
 
Can or is it possible to go in a unmarked vehicle almost like you would be a visitor? I understand the smaller arrangements would be a waste of time... but when bringing a large one and people are ooooing and ahhing over it, I would think you would not be stopped for embarrassment on the hospital or take arrangements if more then one when it it extremely busy with visitors during the later hours.

The glass vase arrangement is a good idea , but I see that is going to be your next excuse , (dropping, breaking) try the clear acrylic vases to tackle that one! Always have plan A-Z , be prepared!

Seems like a couple of years ago, SAF was promoting the different moods flowers do for people, maybe if your Canada society did something on this you should gather the material on the study and several shops meet with administer of hospital to show the quick healing effects of flowers and people receiving them from friends, etc. realizing they are needed back at work, etc. Also I would add the research on foam. It has a bacteria prevention in it. It's the bacteria in the water that causes mold. So on those arrangements vase or foamed use filtered water and express that in the meeting. Also, I would go further into the statistics of visitors themselves bringing mold and disease into the hospital, with the regulations and checks on incoming flowers from growers do not have mold or disease, have them understand the process from grower to patient. I know this sounds like alot of work but when your income is on the line...... Is it alot of work?

On the donation deal , I would think they would just find another shop to do that; unless you 2 are the only shops in town.

Just a thought,
Cyndi
 
Apparently, the hospitals will allow vase arrangements. Just anything in foam or soil is prohibited. It will put a a bite into the sale of our keepsake containers. We still did a certain amount of baby novelties and mugs for the hospital. Our dish gardens are always a good seller for hospitals, so this ig going to hurt. We also have a section of the hospital (psychiatric) that doesn't allow any glass vases. Since that ruling we hardly ever send anything there. Gudrun
 
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