TY - JOUR
T1 - The Green Print
T2 - Advancement of Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare
AU - Sherman, Jodi D.
AU - Thiel, Cassandra
AU - MacNeill, Andrea
AU - Eckelman, Matthew J.
AU - Dubrow, Robert
AU - Hopf, Harriet
AU - Lagasse, Robert
AU - Bialowitz, Joseph
AU - Costello, Anthony
AU - Forbes, McGain
AU - Stancliffe, Rachel
AU - Anastas, Paul
AU - Anderko, Laura
AU - Baratz, Mark
AU - Barna, Stefi
AU - Bhatnagar, Urvashi
AU - Burnham, Jason
AU - Cai, Yizhen
AU - Cassels-Brown, Andy
AU - Cimprich, Alexander F.P.
AU - Cole, Heidi
AU - Coronado-Garcia, Lorea
AU - Duane, Brett
AU - Grisotti, Gabriella
AU - Hartwell, Arthy
AU - Kumar, Varshini
AU - Kurth, Ann
AU - Leapman, Michael
AU - Morris, Daniel S.
AU - Overcash, Michael
AU - Parvatker, Abhijeet G.
AU - Pencheon, David
AU - Pollard, Adam
AU - Robaire, Bernard
AU - Rockne, Karl
AU - Sadler, Blair L.
AU - Schenk, Beth
AU - Sethi, Tushar
AU - Sussman, L. Scott
AU - Thompson, Jeff
AU - Twomey, Janet M.
AU - Vermund, Sten H.
AU - Vukelich, Daniel
AU - Wasim, Natasha
AU - Wilson, Debbie
AU - Young, Steven B.
AU - Zimmerman, Julie
AU - Bilec, Melissa M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This material evolved from the Workshop on Environmental Sustainability in Clinical Care, held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, April 6-8, 2018, co-hosted with New York University. This workshop was supported by grant 1818038 from the National Science Foundation , the Yale University School of Medicine, New York University Green Grants Fund, Yale University School of Public Health, Yale University School of Nursing, and the Yale University Office of Sustainability. This article represents the views of the authors, and not necessarily those of the supporters or author employers. The authors wish to further thank: Garrett Sendlewski for audio-visual support and Jennifer Vissagio for administrative assistance, both from the Yale Department of Anesthesiology; Amber Gerrard and Sarah Jane Compton from the Yale Office of Sustainability for providing printing and communications assistance; and Denise Meyers from the Yale School of Public Health for website development.
Funding Information:
Funding acquisition: CT*, JDS*?, MB?, RD?This material evolved from the Workshop on Environmental Sustainability in Clinical Care, held at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, April 6-8, 2018, co-hosted with New York University. This workshop was supported by grant 1818038 from the National Science Foundation, the Yale University School of Medicine, New York University Green Grants Fund, Yale University School of Public Health, Yale University School of Nursing, and the Yale University Office of Sustainability. This article represents the views of the authors, and not necessarily those of the supporters or author employers. The authors wish to further thank: Garrett Sendlewski for audio-visual support and Jennifer Vissagio for administrative assistance, both from the Yale Department of Anesthesiology; Amber Gerrard and Sarah Jane Compton from the Yale Office of Sustainability for providing printing and communications assistance; and Denise Meyers from the Yale School of Public Health for website development.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2020/10
Y1 - 2020/10
N2 - Healthcare is a major emitter of environmental pollutants that adversely affect health. Within the healthcare community, awareness of these effects is low, and recognition of the duty to address them is only beginning to gain traction. Healthcare sustainability science explores dimensions of resource consumption and environmental emissions associated with healthcare activities. This emerging field provides tools and metrics to quantify the unintended consequences of healthcare delivery and evaluate effective approaches that improve patient safety while protecting public health. This narrative review describes the scope of healthcare sustainability research, identifies knowledge gaps, introduces a framework for applications of existing research methods and tools to the healthcare context, and establishes research priorities to improve the environmental performance of healthcare services. The framework was developed through review of the current state of healthcare sustainability science and expert consensus by the Working Group for Environmental Sustainability in Clinical Care. Key recommendations include: development of a comprehensive life cycle inventory database for medical devices and drugs; application of standardized sustainability performance metrics for clinician, hospital/health system, and national levels; revision of infection control standards driving non-evidence-based uptake of single-use disposable devices; call for increased federal research funding; and formation of a Global Commission on the Advancement of Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare. There is urgent need for research that informs policy and practice to address the public health crisis arising from healthcare pollution. A transformational vision is required to align research priorities to achieve a sustainable healthcare system that advances quality, safety and value.
AB - Healthcare is a major emitter of environmental pollutants that adversely affect health. Within the healthcare community, awareness of these effects is low, and recognition of the duty to address them is only beginning to gain traction. Healthcare sustainability science explores dimensions of resource consumption and environmental emissions associated with healthcare activities. This emerging field provides tools and metrics to quantify the unintended consequences of healthcare delivery and evaluate effective approaches that improve patient safety while protecting public health. This narrative review describes the scope of healthcare sustainability research, identifies knowledge gaps, introduces a framework for applications of existing research methods and tools to the healthcare context, and establishes research priorities to improve the environmental performance of healthcare services. The framework was developed through review of the current state of healthcare sustainability science and expert consensus by the Working Group for Environmental Sustainability in Clinical Care. Key recommendations include: development of a comprehensive life cycle inventory database for medical devices and drugs; application of standardized sustainability performance metrics for clinician, hospital/health system, and national levels; revision of infection control standards driving non-evidence-based uptake of single-use disposable devices; call for increased federal research funding; and formation of a Global Commission on the Advancement of Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare. There is urgent need for research that informs policy and practice to address the public health crisis arising from healthcare pollution. A transformational vision is required to align research priorities to achieve a sustainable healthcare system that advances quality, safety and value.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088095471&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104882
DO - 10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104882
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85088095471
SN - 0921-3449
VL - 161
JO - Resources, Conservation and Recycling
JF - Resources, Conservation and Recycling
M1 - 104882
ER -