Resources

Life Cycle Assessment Methodology 

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an internationally-recognized tool to evaluate the environmental impact of a product or process over the course of its lifespan, from raw material extraction to disposal. The four steps of a Life Cycle Analysis are 1) Definition of LCA goal and scope, 2) Inventory analysis, 3) Impact assessment, and 4) Interpretation. These evaluations can identify aspects of clinical practice that have particularly high environmental impact and guide system-level decision-making to reduce waste, emissions, and often, cost. As an example, please see this LCA of hysterectomies led by collaborator Cassandra Thiel. 

 

 

 

 

Waste Audit Toolkit

Interested in performing a waste audit within your department? Access the Norcal Waste Audit Toolkit to get step-by-step instructions for completing an audit in your department or clinic. The toolkit was designed for a brachytherapy procedure but can be adapted to fit any speciality.

Sustainability Quality Improvement

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, based in the UK, offers step-by-step guidance for completing a sustainability quality improvement project. Check out their resources here. 

Organizations

  • Health Care without Harm: an international organization that works to transform health care worldwide so that it reduces its environmental footprint, becomes a community anchor for sustainability and a leader in the global movement for environmental health and justice. 
  • Practice Greenhealth: a healthcare membership organization that provides information, tools, data, resources, and expert technical support on hospital sustainability initiatives.
  • My Green Doctor: a practice management resource for healthcare clinics, offices, and outpatient centers on environmental sustainability and climate change. 
  • SF Physicians for Social Responsibility: A local advocacy network of physicians and other health professionals that promotes public policies centered around environmental health, nuclear weapons abolition, and social and racial justice. 
  • University of California Center for Climate, Health and Equity: A UCSF-based, cross-UC hub for climate and health research, healthcare sustainability, education, and policy.  
  • Medical Students for a Sustainable Future: A national network of medical students committed to climate action, with teams for advocacy, research, curriculum, and climate-smart healthcare.