The impact of surgery on global climate: a carbon footprinting study of operating theatres in three health systems
University of British Columbia · University of Oxford · +1 more institution
Abstract
BackgroundClimate change is a major global public health priority. The delivery of health-care services generates considerable greenhouse gas emissions. Operating theatres are a resource-intensive subsector of health care, with high energy demands, consumable throughput, and waste volumes. The environmental impacts of these activities are generally accepted as necessary for the provision of quality care, but have not been examined in detail. In this study, we estimate the carbon footprint of operating theatres in hospitals in three health systems.MethodsSurgical suites at three academic quaternary-care hospitals were studied over a 1-year period in Canada (Vancouver General Hospital, VGH), the USA (University…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 10.06
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 20
Authors
3Topics & keywords
- Carbon footprint
- Greenhouse gas
- Operating theatres
- Environmental science
- Unit (ring theory)
- Medicine
- Operations management
- Agricultural science