Blog #25 Greening Health Care
This industry relies on single use efficiency for both safety and convenience. So how do we ever really go Green?
This is going to take real initiative and change from the inside-out. We need the providers and delivery agents to change their practice. And demonstrate that this CAN be done and still be safe and efficient. The team at Harvard is on this march towards more sustainability.
We can also change the narrative of WHY this is so important. If providers do not believe in Climate change or how a zip code influences genetic code- then we have a real problem. At UCSF they are hitting it from all angles. Educating providers, patients and the the administration about why this movement is needed and critical.
This went through but it is a slow slow process. I had a student work to get toxic soap taken out of the OR and better products to be purchased for the patient rooms. This is progress but it takes a voice.
A few examples from Nurse.Com:
Encouraging examples of greener healthcare practices:
- Hospitals that participated in HHI’s Leaner Energy Challenge reduced gas emissions by 73,000 metric tons of CO2e. They equate this to the removal of more than 15,000 cars from U.S. roads per year. Healthier Hospitals, 2014 Milestone Report
- Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., saved 30% of its annual $3.4 million cost on surgical kits by reformulating the kits by removing unnecessary supplies. Healthier Hospitals, 2014 Milestone Report
- Virginia Mason, based in Seattle reported a $3 million savings over three years by reprocessing single use devices (SUDs). Healthier Hospitals, 2014 Milestone Report
- Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., saved $2.1 million in 2012 with 55 individual energy projects. Beaumont has invested in a team of 225 to create cost-effective, sustainable solutions, and employee groups that meet monthly to discuss energy and water reduction ideas. Beckers Hospital Review, 50 Greenest Hospitals in America
- Dell Children’s Medical Center, in Austin, Texas, designed its building to incorporate as much exposure to natural sunlight as possible (80% of the space in the hospital sees natural sunlight). That, coupled with the use of a natural gas-based turbine that produces all of its electricity, heating, and cooling, Dell’s energy savings would fuel approximately 1,800 homes per year. Beckers Hospital Review, 50 Greenest Hospitals in America
- Partners HealthCare in Cambridge, Mass., is on its way to reducing energy consumption by 25% through a variety of methods, including facility and electronic efficiency measures, and the use of renewable energy sources. Partners HealthCare Web site
Yes going green is definitely hard work. Time is money...sometimes taking shortcuts will actually end up costing more. It is easier to use a plastic bottle than use a reusable tin or glass bottle. It is easier to use and buy more plastic bags than to use a reusable cloth bag that you must remember to take to the store with you every time you go shopping. It it shard to change into good habits especially green ones.
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