We're starting small and manifesting little change and behaviours, getting people on board before trying to make things a bit bigger and exciting. We ideally want to engrain behaviours and let the momentum carry itself and make cultural change in the department so when someone new comes along, our efforts as a department (and ultimately a health service) are noticed.
Pick your battles to start, for sure. Big ticket items will come in time, eventually. If you can make one positive and permanent change, that's a win!
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Mike Khoury - FACEM (Chair)
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Deanne Hams - Senior Nurse (Deputy Chair)
Steph Beckman
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Gemma Ridley
Laura Burns
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Rob Shaw
The Team
SVH Emergency Department Subcommittee
From left:
Sustainability wins
removal of plastic cups and cutlery in the tea room
removal of disposable gowns in ED
minimisation of disposable goggles in ED
pending introduction of new bins to department
new education regarding clinical waste, recycling and general waste bins
Current issues and ideas
campaign to think before opening or using consumables
campaign to avoid packaged foods / meals - cooking from home with idea of a "recipe of the week" to try.
revision of procedural packs to avoid duplication and unnecessary waste
aim to encourage healthier / sustainable patient meals in conjunction with hospital
Current activities
Goals
difficulty with learned behaviours (eg coffee cups, opening excess equipment which gets thrown away)
waste generated from non-reusable equipment (eg suture packs)
Lack of changing room space and shower facilities discourages active transport to work
lack of space for appropriate bins
patient and staff safety regarding bin location (history of patients searching through waste bins poses a risk)
Activity in the operating theatre
greatly reduce waste by reduction and behaviour change in the ED
encourage healthy lifestyles for patients and staff by relying on active transport and healthy food options
removal of all disposable items in staff rooms