Green medical informatics An exploration of influencing factors and solutions for reducing healthcare’s environmental footprint

This thesis explores how Medical Informatics (MI) can enhance sustainability in healthcare by addressing its environmental impact and the factors influencing the adoption of MI solutions.
Key findings and contributions include:
1. Framework Development (Chapter 1): A new framework integrates healthcare IT and environmental models to accelerate the adoption of green healthcare solutions.
2. Environmental Impact Factors (Chapter 2): A scoping review emphasizes the need for accurate measurement of resource use, emissions, and waste to integrate sustainability into healthcare quality improvements.
3. Green Lean Six Sigma (Chapters 3-4): An e-learning program tailored for sustainability equips healthcare professionals to reduce environmental harm. Practical implementation revealed factors influencing its effectiveness and areas for improvement.
4. Human and Organizational Factors (Chapter 5): Using the SEIPS framework, this chapter identifies key drivers and barriers to adopting green solutions in healthcare settings.
5. Surgical Optimization (Chapter 6): A novel approach reduces the environmental impact of surgical instrument trays by combining Life Cycle Assessment and Integer Linear Programming techniques.
6. Sustainability Maturity Model (Chapter 7): This tool evaluates and benchmarks healthcare organizations’ environmental performance, aiding targeted improvements.
The studies included in this thesis demonstrate the potential of Medical Informatics solutions to support environmental sustainability in healthcare. It establishes a foundation for future advancements in Green Medical Informatics and offers actionable insights for integrating environmental sustainability into healthcare practices.