shutterstock_70232440

Green Operating Rooms Benefit Bottom Line and Environment

June 4, 2012

Considering greening operating rooms?  A new analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows cost savings and reduced environmental impact without compromising patient care.

Considering greening operating rooms?  A new analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows cost savings and reduced environmental impact without compromising patient care.

Operating rooms produce approximately 20%-33% of all waste in hospitals, and much of this waste is subjected to specialized high-energy processing which is expensive and has negative environmental and health impacts. Figures from 2007 indicate that US health care facilities contributed 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions and disposed of more than 4 billion pounds of waste, making the sector the second-largest producer of landfill waste after the food industry. In 2008, Canadian hospital activities were the second most energy-intensive activity, consuming the energy of 440,000 homes.

Greening operating rooms at a glance:

  • Separating waste into normal waste and biohazard or medical waste streams, as the latter requires high-energy processing, and training staff to differentiate. An estimated 50%-80% of normal waste is disposed of as hazardous waste.
  • Investing in closed collection systems to discharge liquid waste into sanitary sewers, which reduces the amount of waste needing high-energy treatment.
  • Using smart monitors to reduce energy use when operating rooms are vacant.
  • Partnering with medical equipment companies to promote greener packaging; a major contributor to waste is plastic packaging.
  • Donating unused equipment to developing countries.
  • Reprocessing single-use devices to make them suitable for reuse.
  • Exploring alternative disposal methods to incineration, which is responsible for significant emissions of dioxin and furan in Canada.
  • Creating environmental stewardship staff teams to promote and coordinate greening activities.

“A single operation may produce more waste than a family of four produces in a week," states the analysis.

"Operating rooms pose a particular challenge to waste management because of the need for absolute sterility," write the authors. "Fortunately, technologies and waste-reduction strategies have emerged that satisfy the 'triple bottom line' (people, planet and profits), by reducing health care costs and environmental effects without compromising patient care."

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Buildings, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Building Better Schools

Download this digital resource to better understand the challenges and opportunities in designing and operating educational facilities for safety, sustainability, and performance...

Tips to Keep Facility Management on Track

How do you plan to fill the knowledge gap as seasoned facility managers retire or leave for new opportunities? Learn about the latest strategies including FM tech innovations ...

The Beauty & Benefits of Biophilic Design in the Built Environment

Biophilic design is a hot trend in design, but what is it and how can building professionals incorporate these strategies for the benefits of occupants? This eHandbook offers ...

The Benefits of Migrating from Analog to DMR Two-Way Radios

Are you still using analog two-way radios? Download this white paper and discover the simple and cost-effective migration path to digital DMR radios that deliver improved audio...