Many items in healthcare facilities are used only once — plus, energy can be wasted because heating, cooling and devices are left on when not in use, according to an article on the Conversation website. In fact, healthcare produces 7 percent of Australia’s carbon emissions and hospitals produce about half of it.
Some ways hospitals can reduce their environmental footprint and improve their financial bottom line, include:
Reuse surgical equipment where possible. Studies conducted at Western Health and Yale-New Haven Medical Center found reusable anaesthetic equipment in operating theatres saved around $5,000 a year per operating room.
Boost recycling program. Several plastic types from hospitals can be recycled relatively easily, including PVC plastic.
The Evolution of Lighting in Patient Care
HealthPartners and Essentia Health to Combine Organizations
Three Oaks Hospice Reports Email Breach
Achieving Better Treatment Spaces Through Co-Design
Prisma Health to Acquire 36 Urgent Care Sites in South Carolina from Novant Health