The AMA and the My Green Doctor Foundation have a long history together, supporting sustainability in healthcare practices.
Here are some excerpts and resources shared from the AMA website:
An AMA guide, “Lower costs by going green!” (PDF) provides simple, quickly achievable steps in maintaining an environmentally sustainable medical practice. It includes links to other reputable sites with even more detailed information.
The effects of climate change “have direct implications for health care,” says the AMA’s guide, citing a study regarding the direct impact on “changing patterns of disease and mortality.”
While taking part in the long-term work of healing the environment, physicians can experience an immediate and substantial drop in the cost of running a practice.
“Most practices can save $2,000 per physician, per year or more” by adopting wise environmental sustainability standards, says gastroenterologist Todd L. Sack, MD, My Green Doctor Foundation Founder and AMA member who is a long-time environmental advocate within organized medicine and in his home state of Florida.
The site’s list of 10 reasons to go green—also included in the AMA’s guide—says that payoffs come in more ways than just dollars and cents.
According to the guide, an eco-friendlier practice:
- Is a wiser and more responsible uses of resources.
- Saves money.
- Creates a healthier work environment.
- Facilitates team building.
- Generates ideas from every member of your office.
- Improves employee retention.
- Enhances public relations.
- Contributes to a decrease in pollution.
- Builds a healthier community.
- Makes environmental sustainability part of your life.
More Shared Resources:
4 simple ways to go green
What the team should focus on first are easy changes that can have a big impact. The AMA guide lists these four.
1. Establish a “turn off” policy- Make it a practice-wide rule to completely turn off computers, lights, printers, and fax and copy machines at the end of each day.
2. Reset your thermostats- During working hours, there are only two temperature settings to remember: 68 degrees in winter and 74 degrees in the summer. When the office is closed for the night, raise or lower those temperatures, depending on the season. Programmable thermostats will do the work for you.
3. Upgrade your light bulbs- Light-emitting diode and compact fluorescent lamp lighting last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, while using 75% less energy.
4. Reduce and recycle waste- Buy in bulk, buy recycled—including the packaging—and when done with it, recycle it again. Make sure recycling bins are conveniently placed throughout the office. There are many ways to cut use of paper, including double-sided printing and the electronic health record. Switch to a digital fax system that receives faxes by email instead of paper.
For the long run, physician practices will want to embrace a culture of environmental sustainability, adding new policies and procedures. That includes setting goals, measuring progress and making adjustments along the way. At this stage, financial resources can be committed to initiatives that go beyond initial, low-cost activities.
The guide gives two examples. Solar thermal systems that heat water require investment but offer long-lasting savings. “Green power”—electricity generated from renewable resources—is widely available. It can cost more, but practices may choose that option as part of their commitment to environmental sustainability.
Among many other advantages, telehealth is an environmentally efficient solution, lowering the carbon footprint of both the practice and its patients. Check out the AMA STEPS Forward™ toolkit on adopting telemedicine.
Want more help going green? My Green Doctor is here to support you!
Contact us at [email protected] to set up a FREE consultation on making your clinic more sustainable.
Visit www.MyGreenDoctor.org to get started today!
Let’s use our trusted voices to make a healthier planet and healthier patients!
