Vice President of Insights, Innovation and Project Management Office Noah Dunlap joined industry leaders from HCA, Kaiser Permanente and Atrium Health to address the important topic of sustainability in health care during a national Reuters webinar June 23.
“Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) is focused on environmental sustainability because it’s central to who we are as a ministry,” Dunlap said. “We are focused on being good help to those in need, and we’ve found that by coming together as one system – with aligned KPIs and focused energies – we are stronger and more empowered to make a difference for our communities. As an industry, it is essential that we also strive to identify best practices and goals nationwide that will enable us to truly impact change.”
The panel, moderated by Deloitte’s Elizabeth Baca, MD, worked to unpack the impact of climate on populations and the implications for health care – including air quality, food security and other social and environmental determinants of health – and how providers can develop strategies and leverage technologies to ensure organizational readiness while contributing to a better future of health.
Environmental sustainability is a significant focus for BSMH, which has created a sustainability council and market-based green teams to mitigate environmental impact and find and implement new and better ways to meet environmental challenges by reducing energy use and eliminating toxic agents. Partnering with the Healthcare Anchor Network and Practice Greenhealth has allowed BSMH to help build more inclusive, equitable and sustainable local economies by aligning resources across the country.
“Ultimately, as health care providers, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to assess our environmental footprint and make changes that will contribute to a more resilient health care system for those we serve,” Dunlap said.
To hear a recording of the webinar, visit Reuters Events.
