Green Operation Series: Sustainability and Healthcare - What is the Nurse's Role?

Overview

Session Description

In healthcare sustainability, I hear a common complaint; not enough content is geared toward care givers specifically. This presentation is an overview of 4 important topics: waste reduction, energy reduction, toxic and biohazard materials, and responsible purchasing. Myths are debunked, participants will learn quick and easy strategies that focus on their own behavior (changes they can control!), and will help bring clinicians up to speed in the world of "sustainability know-it-all's." This presentation is NOT all about Fairview. It's more of a common sense sustainability crash course for clinicians; the people at the bedside who want to make a difference, but to which sustainability is not their area of expertise.

Learning Objectives

Identify real world strategies that any clinician can use to lessen their environmental footprint while at work
Discuss the common adage "what's good for the planet is good for the patient" and why clinician involvement is so important
Discuss common sustainability questions and debunk common myths
Identify how clinicians can contribute to and lead sustainability initiatives in their own departments and organizations

Presenter

Crystal Saric, Sustainability Program Manager, Fairview Health Services

Crystal Saric is Sustainability Program Manager at Fairview Health Services and has worked in healthcare operations for over 9 years. In her current role, she is leading environmental initiatives at Fairview, an 8-hospital healthcare system based in Minnesota. She has a Master’s of public and nonprofit administration with an emphasis in environmental conservation, serves on the board member for Minnesota Waste Wise, and lives with her husband and young daughter in Dayton, Minnesota.