Green Hospitals – The Strategic Measures to Implement for Sustainability
Nothing in this world is easier done than said. Every change comes with its consequences and being prepared to address them requires knowledge and expertise. Hospital is one place where you have to watch your every step in the process of implementing new operational changes as any disruption in operations may slowdown the response rate or sometimes may affect the operations entirely.
This would be the least thing you would, as healthcare management personnel, expect to happen. Disruptions or delays in operations are few of the reasons why most of the hospitals, even today, are not thinking of ‘Going Green’. Lack of trained professionals who understand the workflow in an environmental friendly hospital adds up to these reasons.
In fact, it should be hospitals that practice green operational activities on a daily basis as a typical hospital environment is nothing less than a factory that produces tonnes of toxic wastages. Here are a few other ways hospitals contribute to the environmental pollution.
- Equipment that uses hazardous chemical compounds such as mercury.
- Increased energy consumption due to the equipment that needs to work constantly.
- Excessive natural resources use such as water.
- Usage of different chemicals and pesticides that impact environment.
On top of everything, processing the bio-wastage is another issue that needs to be addressed with utmost care.
Amid all these challenges, hospitals can manage and go green with systemized operations. Availing the help of healthcare consultants who could help setting up quality parameters at various stages of your operations.
Here are the other efficient operational practices that you could implement to compliment your ‘Go Green’ efforts for better healthcare sustainability.
- Eco-friendly Waste Disposal Protocols – Medical wastage needs to be disinfected before heading to the landfill. Most of the hospitals across the globe follow the incineration methods that not only require excessive energy but also known for releasing noxious fumes which are not good for the atmosphere. Instead, following autoclaving or microwave treatment are not only energy efficient but also environmental friendly. Consult your nearest healthcare consultant to know more about environmental-friendly wastage treatment of your hospital.
- Safe Treatment of Chemical Wastage – Usage of an array of chemicals an integral part of hospital operations. Using all these chemicals under the supervision of an authorized personality and ensuring the wastage is placed in the right bins is extremely important. Neutralizing the hazardous chemical compounds by safe treatment methods is highly recommended.
- Find Ways to Save Resource Usage – The necessity of water, light and air could not be emphasized, not only in the hospital environment but in human life itself. The amount of resources you could save by simply changing the basic equipment will surely surprise you. Basic equipment such as changing the faucets, showers, lights to LEDs and using boilers instead of heaters can help the management not only in going green but also a big buck in hospital maintenance.
- Going Local for Supplies – The regular supplies such as food materials and for basic equipment supplies, it is recommended for hospitals to go local. Get in touch with the local daily suppliers for food supplies and for the medical equipment can cut down on the long supply chain process. Another important initiative hospitals can take is helping formers by supplying them with food wastage which may help them in composting for a sustainable forming method.
Changing the operation landscape that is in line with the current requirements of the humanity is essential for any healthcare institute. With the help of healthcare consulting firms, you can revamp your supply chain system that is both time-efficient and environmental friendly. In addition, making changes to the infrastructure and replacing the equipment can be your long-term investments for a greener hospital environment.
