result
Outcomes research
Leading the Green Health Care Movement
When thinking of sustainability, recycling, conservation and reducing the carbon footprint might come to mind.
But what does sustainability mean for faculty and staff at Houston Methodist?
When thinking of sustainability, recycling, conservation and reducing the carbon footprint might come to mind.
But what does sustainability mean for faculty and staff at Houston Methodist?
Share this story
“In line with our I CARE Values, sustainability means conserving resources to protect the environment while continuing to provide high-quality patient care,” explained Jason Fischer, MBA, System Director of Sustainability.
Established in 2023, the Office of Sustainability supports system-wide sustainability efforts led through employee and community engagement; introspective analyses; actionable roadmaps; and non-profit, industry and governmental partnerships.
Although the office is relatively new, its faculty and staff have initiated several research and operations-focused projects to conserve energy and resources.
For example, Faisal N. Masud, MD, FCCP, FCCM, Medical Director of the Center for Critical Care, collaborates with the Office of Sustainability to lead various Green ICU Initiatives. These projects have attracted partners across the Texas Medical Center, leading to one of the nation’s first collaborative and systematic approaches to health care sustainability goals.
Masud’s team is also part of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s National Task Force on Green ICUs.
These efforts are paramount, as health care accounts for 10% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Within health care, ICUs are considered carbon “hot spots,” emitting enough daily greenhouse gas emissions to rival driving a car 100 million kilometers (62.14 million miles).
Medical waste is another concern. Caring for a single ICU patient can result in as many as 108 disposable gloves, 57 compresses, 34 infusion bags, 16 articles of disposable clothing and 8 bed liners per day.
Despite these shocking statistics, Green ICUs are in their infancy in the US. A May 2024 article Masud and Green ICU colleagues published in Critical Care outlines these current knowledge gaps as well as the state of global health care sustainability efforts. The article also shares experiences from Houston Methodist’s Green ICU Initiative and proposes a three-step pathway to overcome challenges to Green ICUs, such as cost, employee education, and availability of resources. To the team’s knowledge, Houston Methodist’s Green ICU Initiative is the first of its kind in the nation.
So far, the Green ICU team has hit the ground running.
In line with our I CARE Values, sustainability means conserving resources to protect the environment while continuing to provide high-quality patient care.
Jason Fischer, MBA
System Director of Sustainability
“Multiple ICU units across Houston Methodist are examining strategies to reduce the amount of unused supply waste. We found that just one of our ICUs used 1,464,262 medical supplies in a six-month period — so reducing waste is an important priority,” explained Masud, Mary A. and M. Samuel Daffin, Sr., Centennial Chair in Anesthesia and Critical Care.
Further, the systemwide virtual ICU (vICU) program, created during the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to show potential for low-carbon emissions. This state-of-the-art facility allows for remote patient consultations, virtual family visits, tele-rounding, and reduction in staff commuting — all innovations that reduce travel-associated carbon emissions without compromising patient safety and quality of care.
Beyond the ICU, planet-friendly practices have been instituted in other areas of the hospital, including the operating rooms, which are also considered carbon “hot spots.” Sustainable interventions include the elimination of desflurane to reduce emissions from anesthesia gases, one of the largest contributors to health care emissions.
Other Office of Sustainability projects include:
- Sustainability-focused continuing education programs
- Solar panel installation on the Josie Roberts Administration Building parking garage
- An EV charging station implementation study in partnership with Evolve Houston
- The Healing Gardens of Houston Methodist, which is envisioned to be like the rooftop garden at the new Centennial Tower
- In coordination with HR Benefits, a discount program on Moonshot Compost home services through YouDecide
While these projects gain momentum, Houston Methodist remains committed to everyday sustainability efforts.
According to the Office of Sustainability, composting across Houston Methodist campuses has diverted 200,000 pounds of food waste from landfills, reducing harmful methane gas and maximizing landfill capacity.
Other Office of Sustainability projects include:
- Sustainability-focused continuing education programs
- Solar panel installation on the Josie Roberts Administration Building parking garage
- An EV charging station implementation study in partnership with Evolve Houston
- The Healing Gardens of Houston Methodist, which is envisioned to be like the rooftop garden at the new Centennial Tower
- In coordination with HR Benefits, a discount program on Moonshot Compost home services through YouDecide
While these projects gain momentum, Houston Methodist remains committed to everyday sustainability efforts.
According to the Office of Sustainability, composting across Houston Methodist campuses has diverted 200,000 pounds of food waste from landfills, reducing harmful methane gas and maximizing landfill capacity.
For instance, the Houston Methodist Academic Institute is reducing water with pressurized valves, recycling pipette boxes, ensuring hood vents are closed when not in use and using equipment stoplights to reduce energy consumption.
The supply chain workgroup is making environmentally preferred purchases, using reusables and renewables, and planning for zero waste.The Houston Methodist Academic Institute Communications and External Relations team participated in an ICARE gardening project at Nora's Home.
Houston Methodist also continues to engage the community through sustainability fairs, community gardens and the I CARE in Action volunteer projects.
All these initiatives, new or ongoing, require strategic collaboration among faculty and staff. Houston Methodist is proud to protect the planet while keeping safety, quality, service, and innovation at the core of our care.
Learn more about a sustainable future at Houston Methodist.
Faisal N. Masud, Farzan Sasangohar, Iqbal Ratnani, Sahar Fatima, Marco Antonio Hernandez, Teal Riley, Jason Fischer, Atiya Dhala, Megan E. Gooch, Konya Keeling-Johnson, Jukrin Moon & Jean-Louis Vincent
Callie Rainosek Wren, MS
August 2024
Related Articles
Share this story