The healthcare system faces a number of challenges associated with becoming a more sustainable industry and environment. Although the facilities are essential to treating healthcare ailments of every shape and size and providing healthcare solutions to millions of people, they are extremely environmentally impactful places. From the sheer amount of waste created to energy-intensive equipment, healthcare facilities can be a massive environmental drain.
Believe it or not, the healthcare sector creates nearly 5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In highly developed countries with very advanced healthcare systems, this number can jump to over 10%.
The good news is that there are many opportunities for these same healthcare facilities to make changes that can have profound positive impacts on the environment and even in the ultimate health of the patients visiting. Numerous innovations in technology and management of hospitals and other healthcare establishments are starting to push the needle in the right direction. The benefits of these changes cannot be denied.
Advancements in Technology
Today, many new technologies in hospitals stand to make a positive difference not only in the quality of care for patients, but also in relation to overall sustainability of the healthcare industry. For example, new, less invasive technologies are transforming hundreds of different types of surgeries and drastically reducing recovery time. Not only is it better for the patients, but reducing hospital stays also saves a ton of resources and lowers the amount of waste produced.
One example of new innovations in the healthcare industry has to do with eye health. New laser technologies are making it possible for some patients to enjoy same-day laser cataract removal surgery. The benefits to patients are obvious and range from significantly improved vision to lower costs. From a sustainability perspective there are also plenty of benefits from the patients not needing to stay overnight to a reduction in waste from the use of fewer surgical tools and sterile cloths.
The pharmaceutical industry, another sector of healthcare, is another example. Pharmaceuticals are notorious for having a large environmental impact. However, some are working to develop medications that have a greener tone to them. For instance, there are many efforts to design medications that don’t result in chemicals making it into our waterways and impacting aquatic life cycles as much as they currently do.
Changing Management Strategies
Aside from significant advancements in tech, the healthcare industry can make major changes from a more administrative perspective. For example, the sheer amount of paperwork that is now handled digitally has greatly lowered the amount of hospital waste produced. Oftentimes, this has also benefited patients in that they have better access to online medical records, are better able to track their own healthcare data, and experience fewer medical errors.
Today, as new hospitals and other medical facilities are built, there is a profound opportunity to incorporate more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient materials. For instance, hospitals can incorporate simple things like LED lighting or more complex things like more energy-efficient HVAC systems and medical equipment. All of these things stand to not only improve the local environment but can also lower operating costs over a longer period.
Healthcare facilities can also choose to invest more in green spaces and other ‘less techy solutions’ that are also shown to improve patient outcomes. Green spaces, for instance, are massively important to overall sustainability initiatives and have long been linked to stress reduction, lower blood pressure, and mental health benefits. Even being able to experience natural lighting and see a green space from a hospital bed can make a significant difference.
***
From a sustainability perspective, the healthcare industry has a long way to go and many, many ways of proceeding forward. Both advancements in technology and administrative hospital decisions have the power to improve sustainability goals and patient outcomes. Taking the right steps can really be a win-win scenario.
Image Source: pixabay.com.
