Greening HealthcareA first step

Mark BallardLisa MuSarah KhanJoanna Oda

What is Sustainable Healthcare? Currently many hospitals only look at patient

healthcare vs. financial budget Hospitals should look at three factors:

Patient Healthcare Financial Budget Minimizing Environmental Harm

Outline

Global Warming and Hospitals Canada’s Commitment Why Teach Sustainable Healthcare What others are doing about Sustainability The Role of DPAS in Sustainability What Medical Students need to know Rough Course Details Conclusions and Questions

Global Warming

An Inconvenient Truth Provides a good Overview

Humans are the primary cause of Global Warming

Healthcare and Global Warming Healthcare is second only to the

manufacturing industry in its generation of pollution

Healthcare makes up 10% of Canada’s GDP Thus major consumer Thus major polluter

Hospital’s Ecological Footprint The average Canadian

7.66 hectares

The average American 12.22 hectares

The average Asian 1.78 hectares

Vancouver City 180 X its political boundaries

A Canadian Hospital 700 X its actual size

Hospital’s Ecological Footprint Points of Interest

Energy use contributed to 88% (the energy consumption for developed nations is 50%)

8.2 pairs of gloves per patient per day were worn Of 220 tonnes of paper 97 tonnes were recycled Companies were unwilling to provide information

on product composition Food was not calculated Building maintenance was not calculated

Pollution’s Impact

Pollution and ecotoxicity Resource depletion Climate and atmospheric change Reduced ecosystem health

Healthcare’s pollution

Clean general waste Recyclables Biomedical waste Gaseous, Chemical and liquid waste Radioactive waste Pharmaceutical waste Miscellaneous waste

Canada’s Commitment

Kyoto Accord Carbon dioxide emissions 5% below 1990 Levels Huge Public Support Political and economic objectives

not competitive with US

Canada’s Commitment

Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate An agreement signed by US and Canada to

promote the collaboration between countries in the development of clean energies

“a deal on climate change that doesn’t limit pollution is the same as a peace plan that allows guns to be fired” –Worldwide Fund for Nature

What has been done in other places United States

New Hospitals Built to LEEDS standards Leadership in energy and environmental sustainability

development

Ontario Waste Disposal Improvements Air Cleaning First LEED hospital

What has been done in other places British Columbia

Interior Health Authority 3 LEED Hospitals

Recognized by the Government Research on adverse effects done by Healthcare Capital Services wrote up rules on new hospital

design

What are the policies of selected Health Authorities Vancouver Coastal Health

No response, no Publications Vancouver Island Health Authority

Forwarded e-mail to another department Northern Health Authority

Purchases bulk quantities BC College of Physicians and Surgeons

No Response, no publications

Why Teach Sustainability

Primum non nocere- First do no harm Healthcare pledges to not hurt people Healthcare generates pollution Pollution hurts people Hospitals should reduce pollution

In fact healthcare should take a role of leadership in this area

What the student’s want to learn What can I do? Work-Life Balance

Too much personal spending Excessive Paper Too much Recycling

And not enough reusing and reducing Lack of foresight in building design

Where does DPAS fit?

DPAS

Considerations

Students in Hospital can consider actions they are making

New Family Physicians can make considerations in the location of their family practice offices

Current Decision Tree

Number of Patients Cost of Rent

New Decision Tree

Number of Patients

Cost of Rent Environmentally Friendly

The Decision Making Model

Many Patients vs. Few Patients

High Rent vs. Low Rent

Green Decision vs. Wasteful Decision

What can be done practically

In Addition to a theoretical thinking model practical ideas for inspiration can be brought up Staff Training Programs Proper disposal procedures Influence on administrative decision making

Summary

DPAS can provide: Knowledge of the ethical duty of healthcare to the

environment A theoretical model to help students make

environmentally sound decision in the hospital and at home

Inspiration on practical solutions that students can take to make things a little greener

Potential Instructors

Dr. Warren Bell Dr. Bob Wollard Dr. Trevor Hancock

Very knowledgeable in this field Provided many of the sources for this presentation

Conclusions

Sustainable healthcare is recognized, but, not acted upon.

DPAS is in an optimal position to be a leader in this area

Important for the future of our planet, of our patients and of our families.

Student Initiatives

PEAS Approaching University of Ottawa Medical

Faculty Approaching Selected Hospitals in Victoria Vancouver Coastal Health

Acknowledgements

Dr. John Anderson Physicians For Global Survival Dr. Trevor Hancock