By: Anne Marie Orlando, RN, RCIS, CVAHP

Acute care hospitals play a critical role in healthcare delivery, but their operations can leave a significant environmental footprint. From energy consumption to waste generation, the daily activities of hospitals can challenge sustainability efforts. According to the October 2019 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), waste in the US Healthcare System is estimated to be 25% of healthcare spending.  This equates from a low of $760 billion to a high of $935 billion.  Despite these challenges, focusing on clinical product utilization, reprocessing initiatives, and waste reduction, hospitals can align their practices with a greener future. 

Hospitals can no longer rely only on price at the pump conversations to make an impact on their organization.  We must rethink product usage.  The selection and use of clinical products directly impacts both operational efficiencies and sustainability efforts. Acute care hospitals can achieve significant environmental benefits by standardizing product selection.  Streamlining the number of products used reduces redundancy and improves inventory efficiency. Evaluate and move to sustainable alternatives when it makes clinical sense.  Select products with biodegradable or reduced packaging, reusable materials, or a reduced carbon footprint offer eco-friendly solutions without compromising quality.

Hospitals should strengthen their efforts by implementing and expanding programs to reprocess single-use devices (SUDs).  This is a powerful way to reduce costs and environmental impact. These programs allow hospitals or vetted third parties to safely sterilize for reuse certain devices, thereby extending their lifecycle and preventing them from being prematurely discarded. The benefits include cost savings by lowering the need for new product purchases, reduced raw material consumption, and promoting environmental stewardship at all levels of the organization.

Making changes to clinical product utilization as a sustainability practice can also decrease regulated medical waste.  Regulated medical waste (RMW), including sharps and infectious materials, requires costly and environmentally harmful disposal methods like incineration. By minimizing the generation of RMW, hospitals can save money and reduce their ecological impact. Some key strategies include proper training of systems to ensure that only actual RMW is disposed of in designated containers.  Optimizing clinical practices generates less waste overall and can have a meaningful impact.

Tracking sustainability efforts requires hospitals to leverage data and technology in order to ensure their efforts are impactful.  Data analytics and benchmarking tools, such as Blue.Point, empower hospitals to make informed decisions about clinical product utilization and how it affects waste management. By tracking usage patterns and identifying opportunities for improvement, hospitals can avoid overordering and subsequent product expiration, increase recycling rates, and monitor their success.

A hospital-wide commitment to sustainability requires education and engagement at every level. Clinicians and staff can play a pivotal role in these efforts by participating in training on sustainable product usage and waste segregation, identifying and reporting inefficiencies in clinical product utilization, and championing sustainability initiatives across departments.

Sustainability in acute care is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a necessity. Hospitals that prioritize clinical product utilization, invest in reprocessing programs, and reduce regulated medical waste are leading the way in creating a healthcare system that cares for both patients and the planet.  By embracing these strategies, acute care hospitals can achieve significant cost savings, reduce their environmental impact, and position themselves as leaders in sustainability. Together, we can ensure that the healthcare we deliver today doesn't compromise the health of future generations.

Want to learn more about Blue.Point?  Contact us today for a free product demo or for more information contact Jennifer Doty by email jdoty@bluepointscs.com or call 978-747-1529.