Call for action on healthcare sustainability
New research reveals the U.S. healthcare system’s contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change is disproportionately high and harms the public.
A recent review reveals the U.S. healthcare system’s contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change is disproportionately high and harms the public. The findings are part of a series of articles being co-published by Open Forum Infectious Diseases and the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, which highlight the effect of climate change and air pollution on global health and infectious diseases.
“Our current policies and practices on healthcare waste and emissions do not do justice to the health of the children we want to improve,” said Shreya Doshi, pediatric fellow at Children’s National. “The U.S. contributes to 27% of the global healthcare industry GHG emissions (greater than any other country). Infectious diseases professionals can use their background in antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control to lead projects in healthcare sustainability and make a difference.”
Q: How will this work benefit patients?
A: Ultimately, when different specialties and organizations in healthcare make changes to their practices, we will have fewer GHG emissions and a healthier planet for our patients. There is also strong evidence that climate change affects vulnerable communities and countries disproportionately and we hope to change that. We want to provide safe healthcare to children from the current generation without taking away resources from the future generation.
Q: What’s been the hold up in the field?
A: Lack of awareness and time needed for change in practices and policies. For any organization leadership buy-in is needed when it comes to healthcare sustainability. Children’s National actually received a sustainability award two years ago for reducing anesthetic gases.
Q: What did you find that excites you? What are you hoping to discover?
A: There is so much yet to be explored at the intersection of infectious diseases and healthcare sustainability and that’s exciting! No matter what you do within the healthcare field — there is room for improvement and room for reduction in waste and GHG emissions. It is time to reassess and, rethink and innovate our practices. Having collaborators in other specialties who are passionate about the sustainability can help us move the needle faster. Lastly, it is important to know that work in healthcare sustainability has huge cost savings, so it’s a win for the financial health of the institution and for the planet!
You can read the full study, Healthcare Sustainability to Address Climate Change: Call for Action to the Infectious Diseases Community, in the Open Forum Infectious Diseases and the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
