Improving Quality and Safety in the Endoscopy Unit (Virtual) | October 2024-ASGE Practical Steps to Green Your Unit

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The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has released a white paper from its Sustainable Endoscopy Task Force, addressing the environmental impact of gastrointestinal endoscopy practices, which significantly contribute to healthcare-related greenhouse gas emissions and waste. The document outlines a framework and practical steps for reducing this impact in endoscopy units.<br /><br />Key initial steps include assembling an "Endoscopy Green Team" composed of diverse stakeholders such as endoscopy nurses, technicians, endoscopists, and representatives from other departments like administration and recycling services. This team is tasked with strategizing, organizing, and tracking environmental initiatives.<br /><br />The white paper emphasizes the importance of understanding baseline processes and identifying the main sources of waste and carbon emissions within endoscopic practices. It suggests performing waste audits and interviewing staff to pinpoint potentially wasteful practices.<br /><br />Once baseline understanding is achieved, the unit is encouraged to choose specific tasks or alternative practices to implement. These should be manageable, cost-effective, and likely to result in significant reductions in carbon footprint and waste. Examples include optimizing recycling programs, reducing energy expenditure, and ensuring proper segregation of waste.<br /><br />Assessment of these interventions is crucial for understanding their efficacy and the overall impact on environmental metrics like waste generation and cost. Gathering data to demonstrate project outcomes can also assist in developing further quality improvement or research initiatives.<br /><br />Finally, the task force encourages endoscopy units to collaborate and share best practices both internally and with external groups to multiply the impact of successful initiatives. They stress the importance of regular dialogues to share accomplishments and challenges, ultimately fostering a network of environmentally conscious healthcare practitioners.<br /><br />The document concludes by underscoring that while these steps provide a foundation, they are part of a broader, evolving field that will require ongoing reflection and adaptation to emerging challenges and insights.

Keywords

ASGE

Sustainable Endoscopy

greenhouse gas emissions

waste reduction

Endoscopy Green Team

waste audits

carbon footprint

recycling programs

environmental initiatives

healthcare sustainability