The urgency with which we globally are looking to transform industries to become more sustainable has been expedited as the climate emergency becomes more urgent and the effects of climate change more apparent. Healthcare represents just over 19% of the U.S economy and leaders have an opportunity to directly address the industry’s environmental footprint, while at the same time improving the health and communities they work in.
The healthcare industry is responsible for a great deal of waste and a large carbon footprint due to equipment sterilization and the amount energy needed to power large hospitals.
Here are a few ways that the healthcare industry could become more sustainable:
One – Telehealth Appointments
We saw a big surge of telehealth appointment growth from the pandemic. Allowing doctors to use telehealth platforms for appointments and other meetings where no physical exams are needed would decrease the amount of travel that is needed by patients thus decreasing the amount of fossil fuels being used.
Two – Medical Waste
Medical waste is typically thrown away or incinerated. These methods of disposal are not only bad for the environment but also create more carbon within the atmosphere. Ways to overcome this would be reducing the amount of waste and researching more sustainable incineration.
Health facilities are taking more care in their use of disinfectants to avoid harming workers and patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines for employers to ensure that people and the environment are protected against potentially hazardous disinfectants and cleaners.
Three – Electric Ambulances
Swapping out traditional ambulances for electric vehicles cuts down on harmful emissions. Two U.S. brands, Lightning eMotors and REV Group, Inc., partnered to develop zero-emission Emergency Vehicles, which will be based on Lightning eMotors' fourth-generation Lightning Electric Transit Van, according to a press release. The vans offer up to 105 kWh of battery capacity and can be charged via Level 2 AC charging or DC fast charging, according to the companies.
Four – Energy Sources
Having sustainable energy options, such as solar or wind energy, can reduce costs in the medical industry. Hospitals take a lot of power to run so using more sustainable methods would make a big impact on their carbon footprint. There are a few U.S. based hospitals who have already committed to using 100 percent renewable electricity:
Advocate Aurora
Boston Medical Center
Gundersen Health System
Kaiser Permanente
Rochester Regional Health System
Partners HealthCare
University of California Health
University of Vermont Medical Center
Five – Paper Usage
Moving to a more digital workflow would allow for hospitals and doctors to eliminate or greatly decrease the paper information being circulated. The workflow often has paper prescriptions, outside lab results, referral packets, and others. Not only would this decrease deforestation and improve hospitals’ carbon footprint, but also increase efficiencies, reduce human error, and help with a paper storage problem within hospitals.
Healthcare leaders have a great opportunity to champion the sustainability movement, make a lasting positive impact on the industry, and improve the long-term health of their patients, their communities, and the world. The list above is only a few examples of how the healthcare industry can improve the areas local to them. As we move closer to a new year think about how sustainability can fit into your 2022 initiatives.
Here at Extract, it is our mission is to improve patient care and reduce the cost of healthcare by delivering data to the EMR so that physicians and staff can quickly diagnose and treat their patients. Electronic medical records were developed and designed with the assumption that a patient would be receiving care from their producer in a physical clinic- but with shifts in technology (hello telehealth) or are looking to become more sustainable and reduce paper waste, organizations are going to have to shift their workflows to become more automated, which is why we developed our platform, HealthyData.
If you are interested in learning more about how HealthyData can help your organization, please reach out to use today at info@extractsystems.com.
Sources:
https://www.healthcareitnews.com/blog/emea/digital-health-predictions-2022-looking-brighter-future
About the Author: Taylor Genter
Taylor is the Marketing Specialist at Extract with experience in data analytics, graphic design, and both digital and social media marketing. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater. Taylor enjoys analyzing people’s behaviors and attitudes to find out what motivates them, and then curating better ways to communicate with them.