According to the World Health Organization, a sustainable healthcare system is one that provides high-quality care at affordable prices while minimizing its impact on the environment. In general, healthcare facilities, including hospitals and clinics, consume large amounts of energy, water, materials, and food and generate large amounts of waste, much of which is hazardous. As a result, they are responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global warming and climate change. Therefore, healthcare systems must be transformed by adopting innovative practices and approaches to minimize their environmental impact without compromising the quality of their services. This module will discuss the environmental impacts of healthcare systems and their important role in achieving sustainability. It will also cover the most applicable and innovative approaches and technologies for improving the sustainability of healthcare systems.
Skills You Will Gain
At the end of this module, participants will be able to:
- Describe the impact of climate change on public health and healthcare
- Describe the environmental impacts of the healthcare sector
- Understand how sustainability addresses the challenges of the healthcare sector
- Explain the principles of sustainable healthcare systems
- Discuss current technologies and practices to improve sustainability in healthcare
Module Delivery
The module is offered online via MS Teams or Zoom.
Structure of the Module Report
| Section | What it might contain |
|---|---|
The Environmental Impact of the Healthcare Sector and the Importance of Sustainable Healthcare Systems |
|
The Principles of Sustainable Healthcare |
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Current Approaches and Technologies to Improve Healthcare Sustainability |
|
Moderators
Dr. Hatem Abushammala
Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Safety
Coordinator of the College of Health Sciences
Abu Dhabi University
Mr. Barry Bedford
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Mediclinic
