05/02/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/02/2024 07:36
We've written extensively about the future of sustainable procurement in healthcare, and it's heartening to see there's an increased focus on developing more sustainable practices across the industry as a whole.
Sustainable procurement in clinical labs, however, remains in its infancy - but we can, and should, harness the potential of environmental stewardship to evolve current laboratory practices.
After all, laboratory services play a critical role in the healthcare ecosystem. According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately 70% of clinical decisions are based on an initial lab result that highly influences downstream medical care. Despite this crucial role, the lab is often overlooked when it comes to spend management.
Currently, clinical labs contribute to 4.4% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and are responsible for more than 5 million tons of waste each year, largely due to electricity, gas consumption and waste production. Climate change is the greatest threat to global public health, with 10% of all emissions coming from the U.S. healthcare sector - meaning all of us must work together to identify and implement ways to improve sustainability in every aspect of healthcare.
What makes this tricky in clinical labs is the lack of sustainable best practices specific to this setting, which is why partnerships with organizations like My Green Lab are so crucial to enacting necessary changes.
So, where to begin?
The following are three steps that can help you make strides toward more sustainable labs.
The My Green Lab ACT EcoLabel program serves as a valuable tool for consumers, including clinical labs, by offering clear and verified information on the environmental impact of laboratory products. It enables informed decision-making for more sustainable procurement practices within the scientific community. In 2021, Vizient announced a partnership with My Green Lab to lower environmental impact in clinical laboratories. Kaiser Permanente also has included the ACT Eco Label as part of its environmentally preferable purchasing criteria for Lab products.
The ACT EcoLabel program was designed by scientists and procurement specialists to provide clear, third-party verified information about the sustainability profile of laboratory products. A third-party certification reduces the amount of data suppliers must fill out during a request for proposal (RFP), which can be cumbersome.
A key concern for many suppliers is how inconsistent sustainability questions are in RFPs. The adoption of an ecolabel helps reduce the cumbersome questionnaires, provides a consistent metric for sustainability for all lab products and helps suppliers identify areas for improvement.
A national study found that testing for patients in the ICU increases over time, even as most results move closer to normal values. Unnecessary testing consumes limited labor and supply resources and increases the potential for additional (and costly) interventions, which can lead to reduced patient outcomes.
By following these steps, organizations can achieve greater sustainability in their clinical labs - a move that helps to meet healthcare's most important goal of ensuring better human and environmental health while also allowing for increased efficiencies, quality and cost savings.
Yoav Einy is the client program director for Vizient, supporting the Kaiser Permanente environmentally preferable purchasing program. Einy uses his data analytics experience, software development and passion for the environment to partner with product manufacturers,industry experts, sourcing teams and clinician stakeholder groups to support making informed decisions for products and categories that are environmentally preferable.
Mellissa Nguyen is the senior program manager for Vizient's Environmental Sustainability program. She collaborates with Vizient providers and suppliers to develop and implement data, tools and resources to inform and use in purchasing decisions to drive improved human and environmental health. Nguyen earned a B.S.B.A. in information systems and holds an M.A. in international trade policy and an M.B.A. in environmental sustainability. She uses her experience as a United States Peace Corps volunteer, her passion in sustainability and more than a decade in the healthcare industry to affect sustainable change. She has presented on sustainable procurement strategies at BizNGO, CleanMed Europe, AHRMM, Vizient Connections Summit, Health Connect Partners and UNDP.