Identify which services are affected by your sustainability initiative, and brainstorm ways that the initiative will improve patient care and outcomes.

Introduction:

Healthcare industry is committed to sustainability. The industry’s growth has brought about concerns over its impact on the environment. The goal of sustainable healthcare is to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint and waste production, as well as use the resources more efficiently. It is anticipated that the implementation of sustainability measures in healthcare will result in positive outcomes for patient care. This paper examines the impact of the sustainability initiative on patient care and outcome.

Patient Services: How will the Initiative Improve them?

1. Sustainable Healthcare: Energy Management is an essential aspect. It is common for hospitals to use large quantities of energy to heat, cool, or light their buildings. Energy-efficient lighting systems and energy-efficient HVAC systems are some of the ways that sustainability initiatives aim to decrease energy consumption in healthcare buildings. The energy consumption of hospitals will be reduced and resources can be used for patient care. Additionally, a reduction in energy consumption will result in a reduction of carbon emissions, which is expected to have a positive impact on the environment and patients’ health.
2. Another important aspect of sustainable healthcare is waste management. Hospitals generate large amounts of waste, which can be hazardous to the environment and patients’ health. By implementing waste reduction and recycling programs, sustainability initiatives aims to lower the waste produced by hospitals. Patients, staff, as well as the community, will be less likely to contract infections or other diseases if they have a good waste management system. The initiative will also free resources which can be used for patient care.
3. Water Management: Another important part of sustainable healthcare is water management. For patient care, sanitation, and cleaning hospitals use a lot of water. Through the implementation of water-saving technologies and water conservation practices as well as rainwater harvesting, healthcare facilities will be able to lessen their water consumption. These technologies will lower healthcare facility’s water costs and allow for more resources to be used in patient care. Additionally, a reduction in water consumption will result in a reduction of energy consumption, which is expected to have a positive impact on the environment and patients’ health.
4. Food Management: The most important aspect of sustainable healthcare is food management. Hospitals provide meals to patients, staff, and visitors, which can have an impact on the environment and patients’ health. This sustainability initiative promotes healthy, sustainable eating habits by using organic and locally-sourced food options. This initiative will decrease the environmental footprint of healthcare facilities, as well as encourage healthy eating habits in patients, staff,, and community members.

Conclusion:

Conclusion: Sustainability initiatives in healthcare are good for patient care and better outcomes. These initiatives help improve the patient experience by decreasing the incidence of diseases and infections among staff and patients. The initiatives also free up resources which can be used for patient care. The initiatives improve patient outcomes by promoting healthy and sustainable practices that have a positive impact on the environment and patients’ health. Healthcare facilities must embrace sustainability to have positive effects on outcomes and patient care.

References:

1. World Health Organization. (2018). Health and Environment Linkages Initiative: Sustainable Health Care Waste Management. Retrieved at https://www.who.int/heli/risks/medicalwaste/en/
2. Hospitals to Promote a Healthy Environment (2020). Sustainable Food for Healthcare. Retrieved at https://practicegreenhealth.org/topics/sustainable-food-healthcare
3. American Society for Healthcare Engineering. (2020). The Energy of Care. Retrieved at https://www.energytocare.com/