Presentation Information

Sustainability in the NICU: How Green Can We Be?

• Speaker: Justine Parsons , RN, BN, MN, Grad Dip Education
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits:

Abstract:

The World Health Organisation has listed climate change as posing the single biggest threat to the health of the global population. Healthcare, internationally, will see significant impacts affecting the people they serve. Making changes to healthcare and the way in which it is delivered can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the sector. Health services currently contribute approximately 7% of Australia’s entire carbon footprint. Intensive care units have a much higher carbon footprint than general wards, using a large amount of energy, pharmaceuticals, single-use products and generating large volumes of waste. Therefore, as part of the acute care health system, NICU services have an important role to play in reducing waste, recycling products, reducing single-use items and reviewing routine testing. This presentation will discuss impacts of climate change on maternal & child health, particularly as it relates to neonatal care, as well as outline actions that can be taken now, and into the future, with examples of innovation from around the world.