Medical Delta asks graduates to investigate greening potential of hospitals

Technology could make an important contribution to the greening of healthcare. An interdisciplinary approach is necessary to ensure that greening and quality of healthcare go together.

Medical Delta challenges young researchers to shape greening of healthcare and set up the Thesis Lab 'Sustainable Hospitals' together with the LDE Centre for Sustainability.

Direct influence on greening hospital

Healthcare accounts for more than 8% of our total national CO2 footprint (source: ZonMw). The amount of waste and energy consumption of a single surgery is enormous. Medical Delta is asking master students to help think of concrete solutions to make hospitals greener. Within the Thesis Lab Sustainable Hospitals, students are guided in doing research for their graduation thesis. The research results are made available in the form of practical solutions for healthcare professionals, scientists, doctors and/or patients, allowing the graduates to have a direct influence on the sustainability of hospital care.

Hospitals are complex organisations, consisting of various departments with different tasks, responsibilities and needs. External parties supply the materials, medicines and equipment. Patient safety is a basic principle that cannot be compromised. Between February and July, the master students receive guidance every fortnight, including lectures, meetings with relevant stakeholders and excursions. In this way, they will be introduced to the subject and helped to get the most out of their research.

Implications for reuse

Within the complex field of forces in and around the hospital, the students search for answers to the central question: 'How can we make hospitals greener? In sub-studies, the graduates each work for a specific hospital unit, such as the Radiology Department, Biomedical Engineering, the Medicine Department or the Central Sterile Services Department. Concrete questions include: 'What are the costs and benefits of single-use versus multiple-use surgical instruments?' and 'What are the implications for design, regulation and supply chain when we re-use components of disposable equipment?'.

There is room for six to nine master's students. Interested parties can find more information here, including an overview and elaboration of the concrete research questions, and register for the Lab.