Hospital leaders have gradually become more aware of how important sustainability is in their communities, and becoming a greener hospital has now become embedded in many hospitals’ financial strategies. For example, according to a Johnson & Johnson whitepaper, 54 percent of hospitals say green attributes are “extremely important” in their purchasing decisions. In addition, 40 percent of hospitals plan to adjust product requests for proposals to account for sustainable elements, and more than one-third of hospitals have already switched to supplies that they consider to be greener.
Highlights on why hospitals should take sustainability measures into account and how they directly affect a healthcare organization’s finances:
- Hospital sustainability efforts promote responsible public health and other mission-based goals.
- Hospitals that decide to go green will see savings to their bottom line
- Hospital executives who emphasize ways to combat climate change and promote public health will see benefits across the board.
- “This is about saving money and costs, but it’s also about delivering on the promise of all healthcare institutions. How can we deliver efficacious care to patients in a way that also doesn’t detract from their long-term health by hurting the environment?”
- Sustainability pays off in the long run – The ROI for many efforts, ranging from reprocessing of single-use devices to investing in more eco-friendly, durable materials, is there.
- “Hospitals and healthcare institutions often are critical facilitators and must demonstrate a commitment to the community. Reducing waste and energy saves [hospitals] immediate money with an immediate return on that investment, but it also has a lasting impact for a hospital’s equity and brand in the community.”
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