Practice managers and health professionals recognize that the healthcare industry uses an enormous quantity of resources and poses considerable adverse environmental impacts, but few practices have implemented environmental sustainability and climate change management programs. This workshop-style session, led by a world expert in outpatient healthcare environmental sustainability, will explain the environmental impacts of our industry and particularly of outpatient healthcare. The significant rewards of sustainability management will be presented, including decreasing overhead costs, improving staff recruitment and retention, improving the practice's public relations profile, and even to improve community health. Specific examples will be described from practices that have undertaken this. Included will be the potential improvements in community health outcomes, health equity, and healthcare costs. Next, we will describe the sustainability practice management resources that are available currently to hospitals and outpatient practices. The breakout session will workshop ways that practices easily can jumpstart their own environmental sustainability journey with the twin goals of saving money and creating healthier communities.
Learning Objectives:
Recognize the adverse environmental impacts of outpatient medical practices, clinics and ASCs
Identify resources available for implementing environmental sustainability
Report a long-term environmental sustainability practice management program with the potential to save money, improve community health outcomes and provide other benefits
