Sustainability in Healthcare

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Course Objectives
  1. Define sustainability in healthcare and explain its significance to clinical practice, operations, and public health.
  2. Assess the environmental footprint of healthcare, including waste, energy use, and the impact of pharmaceuticals and transportation.
  3. Evaluate how emerging technologies and innovation—such as telemedicine, AI, and green infrastructure—support sustainable healthcare delivery.
  4. Analyze how global trends like climate change, population growth, and policy development are shaping the future of sustainable healthcare systems.

Course Content
Course Creator: Kris Fox CPT1
Total CE Hours: 1 Credit Hour
Pace Course #: 586-2124-25

Course Description:

Sustainability in healthcare is an increasingly urgent priority, as the industry faces mounting environmental pressures and rising global health demands. This article explores how healthcare systems contribute to environmental challenges through waste, energy use, and supply chain emissions—and how those impacts can be mitigated through innovation and thoughtful design.

This discussion connects environmental health with key influences such as population growth, climate change, and emerging technologies. Topics include the environmental footprint of clinical spaces, the role of telehealth and AI in reducing unnecessary procedures, and how leadership and policy can drive sustainable transformation. Case examples and scenario-based discussions highlight real-world strategies already in motion across healthcare systems. With a focus on relevance to laboratory professionals, this article underscores the importance of sustainable practices in phlebotomy and the broader clinical environment.

References: 
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  3. (n.d.). Health Care's Climate Footprint. Health Care Without Harm. Retrieved June 29, 2025, from https://global.noharm.org/sites/default/files/documents-files/5961/HealthCaresClimateFootprint_092319.pdf
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  5. (n.d.). Operational framework for building climate resilient health systems. World Health Organization. Retrieved June 29, 2025, from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/operational-framework-for-building-climate-resilient-health-systems
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  10. (2022, March 2). World leaders and experts call for action to protect the environment from antimicrobial pollution. WHO World Health Organization. Retrieved July 4, 2025, from https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-world-leaders-and-experts-call-for-action-to-protect-the-environment-from-antimicrobial-pollution#
  11. (2023, September 1). The carbon footprint of surgical operations: A systematic review update. National Library Of Medicine. Retrieved July 4, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10626532
  12. (25, June 4). Uncovering the carbon footprint of minimally invasive axillary osmidrosis surgery in China through life cycle assessment. Nature Scientific Reports. Retrieved July 4, 2025, from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-09293-4#
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  15. (n.d.). Governance related factors influencing the implementation of sustainability in hospitals: A systematic literature review. Science Direct. Retrieved July 4, 2025, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851024001258
  16. (2024, July 15). Exploring sustainable healthcare: Innovations in health economics, social policy, and management. Science Direct. Retrieved July 4, 2025, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402409217X

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