A Kimberley-based physician, Dr. Ilona Hale, and a team of health care professionals, have produced a new resource, specifically aimed at clinicians called 含羞草研究社楶lanetary Health for Primary Care含羞草研究社�.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 an online guide for healthcare providers meant to make the job of reducing our environmental impact in healthcare easier,含羞草研究社� said Dr. Hale. 含羞草研究社淭he Planetary Health for Primary Care guide offers a new way to think about the problem and practical tips on incorporating solutions into everyday clinical practice.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚 think a lot of people in health care are looking for ways to make a difference,含羞草研究社� she said.

The guide outlines ways clinicians can be climate advocates in their day to day work.

But it含羞草研究社檚 not just the standard green office practices, Hale says.

And for health care, it can go far beyond turning off lights and trying to use less paper.

The health care sector is one of the most polluting sectors, contributing five per cent of Canada含羞草研究社檚 total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Hale says a study in the UK a couple of years ago found that 80 per cent of the pollution created by the healthcare industry is related to medications and lab test.

含羞草研究社淭his resource outlines different strategies that address the bigger impacts含羞草研究社攖he upstream waste generated in the supply chain to produce materials required for medications, lab tests, surgeries, and hospitalizations含羞草研究社攁nd offers tangible actions to decrease it, such as reducing unnecessary care, empowering patients, and shifting to prevention.含羞草研究社�

It含羞草研究社檚 going to require physicians to think differently about the care they provide, she says. And it含羞草研究社檚 all part of the move to thinking about wellness and prevention.

含羞草研究社淚f you do a good job on wellness, no one really notices,含羞草研究社� she said. Our system, she says is geared to providing tools, and medications, for various acute illnesses.

含羞草研究社淭he people who make the drugs are motivated by that,含羞草研究社� she said.

But what if physicians, instead of just prescribing medication for say, blood pressure, spent more time talking to patients about eating healthier and a better diet, that could lead to them not needing medication at all?

含羞草研究社淎 lot of the tools to fix people are just common sense but we don含羞草研究社檛 think about it,含羞草研究社� Hale said.

The Planetary Health for Primary Care guide can be accessed by the public on the website or by healthcare providers on , a comprehensive, password-protected physician含羞草研究社檚 resource website.

Asked about getting buy-in to the guide, she said it will take time, but in speaking to individual practitioners she thinks they are interested. And the Ministry of Health is getting more and more interested in environmental impacts, she says.

The steps suggested in the guide are fairly straightforward:

含羞草研究社� De-prescribe whenever appropriate.

含羞草研究社� Ensure diagnosis of asthma or COPD have been confirmed when refilling inhalers

含羞草研究社� Think of ways to reduce driving and encourage patients and staff to do same

含羞草研究社� Start writing social/nature/exercise prescriptions

含羞草研究社� Celebrate every patient who quits smoking in some way

含羞草研究社� Avoid unnecessary testing

Hale notes environmental action in healthcare is becoming an increasingly important topic, and there is strong potential that sustainability will soon become a necessary component of value in the healthcare system.

含羞草研究社淟ow-carbon, high-quality care is a win-win-win: it improves patient care, reduces our environmental impact, reduces our workload, saves money in the system, and increases equity,含羞草研究社� said Dr. Hale.

The Planetary Health for Primary Care guide was supported by the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice and Cascades Canada, a Government of Canada initiative. Prior to writing the guide, a working group on Planetary Health in Primary Care was engaged. As well, a multi-disciplinary review was conducted in two rounds by healthcare professionals from across Canada along with input from patient partners.

carolyn.grant@kimberleybulletin.com
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