How Healthcare is changing its Impact on the Environment

Whether it’s a full-scale hospital or a local clinic, the field of healthcare is working hard to improve the health of both patients and the planet. With the amount of energy healthcare facilities use on a daily basis, hospitals and smaller practices are going green by taking an eco-friendly approach to spreading the health. Here are just a few ways the healthcare field is helping to save the environment.

Reprocessing Reusable Medical Equipment

There is a lot that goes to waste in a hospital due to the nature of medical sanitation. Emergency rooms alone throw out multiple syringes, scalpels, and other surgery devices every day in order to keep the operating environment sterilized. But, thanks to medical reprocessing, many of these medical devices are getting a second life.

Medical equipment reprocessing works much like recycling at home, except the recycled equipment goes through a rigorous sterilization process. Reprocessing companies collect medical equipment from hospitals, sterilize and inspect it, and resell it to hospitals, which keeps medical waste out of landfills.

Hand Dryers in the Restrooms

Hospitals have hundreds of lavatories on the premises, from waiting room restrooms to patient bathrooms. This results in thousands of hand washes a day, especially in an environment where sanitation is key. As a result, hospitals use rolls and rolls of paper towels, which produces tons of waste.

In order to put an end to paper towel waste, many hospitals across the country are installing automatic hand dryers in their restrooms and bathrooms. Auto hand dryers create a high-intensity vortex of hot air while using minimal energy, which is more environmentally friendly than using heaps of paper towels.

Green Initiatives for the Entire Staff

When the entire medical staff gets involved in the environmental effort, hospitals become a greener place. Getting everyone from doctors to nurse practitioners on board with going green is helping hospitals reduce waste and recycle more.

Many hospitals post eco-friendly cheat sheets in common areas and staff break rooms that list tips on recycling as well as how to reduce waste within the hospital. In addition, hospitals and clinics are also assigning green leaders who are responsible for making sure everyone on their floor is taking a green approach to their medical work.

Changing Light Bulbs

Although emergency rooms and exam rooms require optimal lighting, hospitals across the country are swapping out their incandescent and tube fluorescent bulbs for energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Replacing existing bulbs with compact fluorescents reduces energy usage and saves hospitals up to 30 percent on their annual lighting costs. Likewise, hospitals are also installing motion sensor lighting in hallways and bathrooms, so the lights stay off until they’re actually needed.

Dual Flush Toilets

The over usage of water is a major concern in medical facilities, especially when it comes to excessive toilet flushing. Because of this, more and more hospitals are installing dual flush toilets, which reduce water waste by about 50 percent annually. Instead of a full flush every time, dual flush toilets offer half flushes for liquid waste.

When hospitals help save the planet by using the green techniques above, the world becomes a healthier place.