This report originally appeared in the November 2010 issue of DOTmed Business News

By Sabine Duffy-Sandstrom

It is no secret that environmental protection has become a hot topic in politics, the media and industry. Health care may not be the first industry thought of in the push to go “green,” yet even in our industry, the green presence is increasing, and with good reason. Climate change can affect human health, and the health care sector can play a vital role in not only dealing with the health consequences of these changes, but also helps to combat them.

The environmental impact of health care may – at first glance – seem inconsequential, but in reality, hospitals are energy-intensive institutions that contribute to climate change through procurement policies, resource usage and disposal, or any number of other ways.

For instance, the Environmental Panel on Climate Change reported in 2007 that hospitals in Brazil made up 10.6 percent of the country’s overall commercial energy consumption. England’s National Health Service reported that health care accounts for 18 million tons of CO2 emissions per year, or 25 percent of total public sector emissions in the United Kingdom.

The World Health Organization recognizes that health care co-benefits can be achieved by reducing the industry’s environmental impact, citing basic measures “from improving hospital design to reducing and sustainably managing waste, using safer chemicals, sustainably using resources, such as water and energy, and purchasing environmentally friendly products.”

The technique of refurbishing pre-owned medical devices has always been an environmentally friendly option, allowing for an average material reuse of 90 percent in refurbished systems. While the refurbishment process contributes to sustainability and to extending the respective product lifecycle by preserving, as well as recycling valuable resources, there are still other ways that refurbished systems vendors can further ensure the environment is protected for future generations by combating CO2 emissions.

In 2009, Siemens reported that the refurbishment of its systems contributed to nearly 20,000 tons of CO2 reduction. According to KfW development bank, the savings is equals the CO2 storage of approximately 79 acres of tropical rainforest, or the yearly electrical power consumed by approximately 5,700 households.

And this is only a starting point.

We have been given a great responsibility. It’s now our time to step up and be the example for the industry to follow.

Siemens, for example, has implemented a new environmental protection campaign called the Sustainable Impact Program. This campaign combats CO2 emissions from two angles: refurbishing its own systems to save CO2 and contributing to CO2 absorption with planted trees in Indonesia. This program provides the economical and ecological benefits that customers are demanding. Now the buyer can afford a state-of-the-art system while directly contributing to environmental protection.

We can all be proud to be a part of our industry’s growing effort to help preserve and restore the environment, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. Placing such high quality standards on refurbished systems is only the first step in the lifecycle. Refurbishment means providing a second life: a second life to the actual system, but, in the much bigger picture, supporting the cause to protect our environment-now and in the long run.

Sabine Duffy-Sandstrom is vice president, Refurbished Systems at Siemens Healthcare (Malvern, Pa.).