Barriers and enablers to implementing environmentally sustainable practices in healthcare

Implementing sustainability practices is on the agenda for various health organizations; however, it requires a well-thought out strategy and roadmap. To avoid wasted investments, a review was conducted to identify the barriers and enablers to implementing environmentally sustainable practices in healthcare. The three concepts guiding the search were (1) environmental sustainability; (2) healthcare; and (3) barriers or enablers. A total of 16 articles were included and reviewed for data extraction. While most articles focused on healthcare in general, dentistry and surgery were the most recurring clinical areas of focus. Barriers and enablers were related to the individual (e.g. knowledge, skills, and attitude), institutional (e.g. budget, strategy, and readiness), geographical/infrastructural (e.g. infrastructure and public awareness), political (e.g. regulations and incentives), and other (e.g. patient awareness and knowledge). A key enabler identified was having transformational leadership with a clear vision and collaborative approach.

Findings from this review suggest that various factors at the individual, institutional, geographical, and political levels play a role in the success or failure of environmental practices.

W&W Sustainability Lead, Dr. Stephanie Hanna, outlines all relevant factors in a published article.