Ideas to Make the Healthcare Industry More Environmentally Friendly
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The healthcare industry is vital to the well-being of countless U.S. citizens, but that lifeline comes with a substantial environmental impact. According to research, the industry is responsible for a full 10 percent of national greenhouse gas emissions and smog formation. Further, 470,000 disability-adjusted life years were lost as a result of those pollutants.
The industry’s significant emissions numbers have led to a push for more widespread sustainability in recent years. For example, more than 1,300 health care organizations and suppliers nationwide have joined the Practice Greenhealth Healthier Hospitals Initiative. Practice Greenhealth provides tools, resources, and technical assistance to help facilities engage in more sustainable practices.
At its core, the healthcare system requires enormous amounts of energy to sustain itself, from the supply chain to individual healthcare facilities. Hospitals are the some of the most energy-intensive commercial buildings in the country, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The good news is that there are numerous steps a healthcare facility can take to help reduce its environmental impact.
Switch to Digital Health Records
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A seemingly infinite amount of paperwork is generated at both healthcare facilities and their suppliers, and reducing that paperwork is part of the larger picture when it comes to sustainability. The environmental impact of paper is significant: Approximately 26 percent of waste dumped in landfills is paper and paperboard, and paper production requires large amounts of water — up to 2.5 gallons per sheet. As paper decomposes, it emits methane, a greenhouse gas.
Many healthcare facilities are doing their part to reduce paper consumption by switching to digital record storage, known as electronic health record (EHR) systems. Along with environmental benefits, EHRs help keep patient data more secure and easily accessible by both patients and healthcare providers. Facilities may also find that EHRs help streamline the data collection process, improving employee productivity.
To maximize the value of EHR systems, healthcare facilities must take several steps and abide by EHR best practices. Regular employee training is essential to reduce operator error when a facility makes the switch to EHRs. Templates should be designed so that they’re easy for employees to use and understand, and audits should be conducted regularly in order to pinpoint areas that can be improved.
Embrace Telemedicine
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EHRs also allow patients to review lab results and schedule appointments without having to leave their home, reducing the emissions that result in a commute to their doctor’s office. Another new form of technology that has a similar result is the realm of telemedicine. Bradley University reports that about 10.1 million office visits are made annually to nursing facilities alone, at a cost of approximately $1.3 billion per year. Telemedicine can significantly reduce those numbers.
Telemedicine gives patients access to their primary care provider and other health professionals via remote channels, such as telephones and video chats. Using various forms of communication technology, a healthcare professional can evaluate, diagnose, and provide treatment options to patients at a distance. The ease of access afforded by telemedicine allows disabled, elderly, and patients in remote areas to receive care they may otherwise have been unable to obtain.
78.5 million patients worldwide will utilize telemedicine in some form by 2020. The technology is expected to improve overall patient outcomes and has been shown to reduce hospital admission rates among patients with long-term chronic diseases. These benefits, along with the reduction in carbon emissions stemming from lengthy commutes to healthcare facilities, give telemedicine a distinct advantage when compared to other forms of care.
Invest in Local Food and Sustainability
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Along with digitizing records and utilizing new forms of diagnostic technology, healthcare facilities should do everything they can to reduce waste and improve sustainability. To help offset energy consumption, many facilities are starting to utilize alternative energy, including solar power. Alternative energy isn’t just beneficial for a healthcare facility’s energy consumption needs; it can also positively impact human health. Solar power results in lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced air pollutants, including sulfur and nitrogen, improving air quality.
Conservation measures don’t end with the installation of alternative energy systems, however. Hospitals should have recycling programs in place and consider the environmental impacts of their food suppliers. Purchasing locally sourced food products may improve patients help and strengthens the local economy, and many forward-thinking healthcare companies are already harnessing the benefits. Local foods are the key to eating healthy on a budget, and hospitals can leverage local farmers to offer better nutrition to their patients and protect their bottom lines.
By purchasing as much food as possible from local sources, healthcare facilities can cut down on their food miles, which translates to reduced dependence on fossil fuels and less air pollution overall. Less miles traveled also means that there’s less risk of food contamination or spoilage, keeping patients healthier. Local foods also reportedly contain more nutrients than food that travels long distances, and proper nutrition is vital to the patient experience — especially those with chronic illnesses.
While eco-friendly efforts like digitizing records, utilizing telemedicine, and sourcing local foods are typically done at the individual facility level, these steps help improve the healthcare industry overall. Patients will have a more positive experience when their healthcare is environmentally friendly, leading them to recommend a particular facility to their friends and family. Sustainable facilities are also more cost-effective at the bureaucratic level than their traditional counterparts, and a widespread commitment to sustainability could cut healthcare costs and result in significant environmental benefits across the industry.
