Greening radiology helps improve providers’ ecological footprint

Sustainable imaging: pioneering environmental responsibility in radiology

Climate change has far-reaching impacts on healthcare, affecting both physical and mental health as well as the healthcare system itself. Increasingly frequent and extreme weather events – such as heatwaves, storms and wildfires – put people's health and safety at risk, causing injuries, illnesses and even death. Climate change also exacerbates air pollution, which can result in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It contributes to the spread of infectious diseases and can lead to food and waterborne illnesses.¹

Furthermore, climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, deepening existing health inequities.² Climate change can lead to shortages of medical supplies, power outages and damage to healthcare facilities, making it more difficult to deliver care effectively.³ In a national survey of 1,001 clinicians, about four out of five clinicians (79%) said their hospitals should be engaged in climate change and they feel it's tied to their overall mission.⁴

As the healthcare industry tries to be more environmentally friendly, radiology departments are being encouraged to adopt sustainable practices. This includes using less energy and water, using biodegradable materials and reducing waste. Sustainable radiology, also known as green radiology, is a key area in healthcare where providers can work together to make a positive impact. There’s growing recognition of the importance of environmentally friendly practices in healthcare, and medical imaging has a large environmental footprint. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scanners produce a large amount of carbon emissions and up to 4% of a hospital’s total energy.⁵

Begin with energy efficiency management

Energy efficiency is a critical aspect of green radiology. This involves the use of advanced diagnostic technologies that consume less power, as well as optimizing the energy usage of imaging facilities. Also, using energy management systems and switching to renewable energy sources such as solar power can greatly reduce the carbon footprint of radiology operations. Strategies to reduce energy use include:

• Energy reduction measures: schedule non-critical medical imaging equipment (MIE) auxiliary system loads like screens and lights to turn off during unoccupied hours and find significant energy savings.
• Equipment upgrades: newer MIE units are known for efficient energy consumption and improved imaging quality and can bring reduced energy consumption and operational costs.
• Standby mode management: changing MIE from idle mode to off or low-power mode when the standby or idle functionality isn’t needed can also lead to energy savings.
• Metering studies: identifying opportunities to measure and reduce MIE energy consumption through metering studies can help in understanding and managing energy use more effectively.

Powering our facilities: integrating renewable energy sources into healthcare facilities

Integrating renewable energy sources into healthcare facilities can significantly reduce their environmental impact and contribute to combating climate change. By using solar power, wind energy and other renewable sources, healthcare facilities can rely less on fossil fuels. This helps to reduce carbon emissions and leads to a greener operational footprint. The transition not only helps in reducing the environmental impact but also fosters innovations in medical technologies, ensures uninterrupted power supply and can lead to cost savings.⁶ Furthermore, using renewable energy sources in healthcare facilities has been shown to improve public health. It reduces air pollution, benefiting both patients and healthcare workers. Using sustainable energy solutions in healthcare can make the community healthier by improving air quality. It also helps to lower healthcare costs and create jobs, which boosts the economy.⁷

Collaborative supplier partnerships

Many life science companies are working hard to be more sustainable. They are taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, creating imaging equipment that’s healthier for the environment and making their operations more energy efficient. These initiatives include implementing energy efficiency measures to reduce the carbon footprint and cost savings and adopting sustainable practices in the delivery of care.

Philips Healthcare and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) are working together to find alternative ways to do business. They are exploring circular business models, to make imaging systems more affordable and reduce their impact on the environment. Their efforts have resulted in cost savings and environmental benefits. They’ve reduced the cost of owning imaging systems by up to 23% and cut carbon emissions by 17% for magnetic resonance (MR) systems. Additionally, they've achieved nearly a one-third reduction in carbon emissions for CT systems.⁸

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Siemens Healthineers are working together to track how much energy imaging devices use. Their goal is to create imaging services that don’t harm the environment and to explore the use of low-field MRI imaging. Moreover, the company is dedicated to continuously enhancing the environmental performance of its products and encourages feedback and collaboration to achieve this goal.⁹

Leading the healthcare industry to meaningful change

It’s important for healthcare to address its environmental footprint – not only to minimize its contribution to climate change, but also to promote public health, reduce healthcare costs and demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility. By working together, healthcare facilities and their partners can drive meaningful progress toward a more sustainable and resilient healthcare system. The following approaches can help address challenges and facilitate the adoption of ecofriendly practices in radiology:

• Leadership and staff engagement — strong leadership and staff engagement are essential to driving the transition to sustainable radiology. Leaders can promote a culture of environmental responsibility and provide the necessary support and resources for staff to embrace green practices.
• Addressing misconceptions and resistance to change — it's important to address misconceptions regarding infectious risk and negative staff attitudes that may hinder the adoption of sustainable technology. Education, training and open communication can help overcome resistance to change.¹⁰
• Financial considerations — upfront costs of sustainable technology can be substantial. However, healthcare facilities can investigate funding opportunities, like federal climate funding, tax credits for renewable energy projects and energy efficiency incentives. These opportunities can help offset the upfront costs and make sustainable technology more affordable.
• Regulatory support — advocating for regulatory provisions that prioritize sustainability alongside diagnostic accuracy and patient safety can help create an enabling environment for the adoption of more eco-friendly practices in radiology.
• Collaborative partnerships — healthcare facilities can collaborate with life science partners to assist with their sustainability efforts. These suppliers provide access to additional expertise, resources and innovative solutions that can make their radiology practices more environmentally friendly.