MDNews - Kansas City Bi-State

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PRACTICE MANAGEMENT  +++ +++ CREATING A NEW NORMAL: the Benefi ts of Going Green F INDINGS PR E S ENT ED AT Baltimore’s CleanMed confer- ence show design of energy usage can improve utility usage by 60%, which translates to projected annual savings of $730,000. Changes to current hospital design focused on daylighting, heat recovery and thermal energy storage to reduce waste. Plan for Tomorrow Operating rooms are top revenue sources for most facilities and leading producers of waste output, totaling nearly 70% when you include labor-and-delivery suites. Adopting eco-friendly practices in the operating room can reduce cost and improve effi ciency while ensuring patient safety. The top fi ve strategies to go green in the operating room include: 1. Improve management of pharmacy waste; 2. Limit and separate waste; 3. Make purchase decisions with con- sideration of environmental impact; 4. Reduce energy consumption; and 5. Reprocess single-use devices (SUDs). Safe and Green Concerns about patient safety have increased the use of SUDs in the operating room. To combat the waste of SUDs and the disposal of opened but unused medical 14 | Kansas City Bi-State MD NEWS  MDNEWS.COM MAKE YOUR OFFICE GREENER in Operating Rooms or Medical Practices HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTE 4 BILLION POUNDS OF WASTE PRODUCTS TO LANDFILLS EACH YEAR. ADOPTING GREEN PRACTICES AT THE HOSPITAL AND PRACTICE LEVELS CAN HELP THE ENVIRONMENT, ENHANCE YOUR IMAGE AND IMPROVE YOUR BOTTOM LINE. devices, reprocessing programs monitored and conducted by hospitals can prepare medical devices for safe reuse. Third-party processing companies prepare more than 100 types of SUDs for use in institutions and major hospitals nationwide, reducing costs by 50%. Reprocessing of SUDs that pose low risk to patients include elastic bandages, surgical scissors and tourniquet cuffs. Moderate-risk products require premarket notification of efficacy and safety and include compression sleeves, drills, laparoscopic equipment, pulse oximeter sensors and ultrasound catheters. Eco-Friendly Practices Reducing waste and adopting eco- friendly initiatives at the practice level can improve public perception and your profit. Renovating or constructing a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building can demonstrate a physician’s compassion for the planet as well as his or her patients. Key features include: + energy-effi cient lamps, + high-effi ciency windows, + natural ventilation and + optimized insulation. n LIMITING NOISE IN your offi ce contributes to a more tranquil atmosphere and helps put patients more at ease. Noise reduction measures should provide spaces that allow the discussion of personal information to remain private. HERE ARE MORE TIPS TO HELP YOUR PRACTICE GO GREEN: + Ask your utility provider for an energy audit to identify problem areas and solutions. + Choose green cleaning products to improve indoor air quality. + Cut water use in half by installing aera- tors on all faucets. + Ditch disposables and switch to reusable items that can be cleaned and sterilized with less energy and water than making and shipping disposable items each time. + Install motion sensors for lights and a programmable thermostat. + Purchase recycled offi ce products, make two-sided copies and recycle as many items as you can. + Replace bottled water services with a fi ltration system in the water line. + Select Energy Star-rated offi ce machines and power down nightly to eliminate nighttime energy use. + Use only low-VOC — volatile organic compound — carpet and paint for renovations or new construction to limit toxic emissions after installation. ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Crossroads Hospice ................................... 11 First Consult................ Inside Front Cover Keurig ............................. Inside Back Cover Polsinelli Shughart ..................Back Cover ProAssurance ...............................................9

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