![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sustainableendoscopes.forskning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/07\/AdobeStock_177689114-1024x683.jpeg\")
\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSustainable Use of Single Use Endoscopes\n\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThe healthcare system must reduce its climate footprint, but sustainability cannot be solely measured by CO2 emissions.
\r\nThis Swedish-Danish project compares reusable and single-use endoscopes in terms of clinical quality, economics, resource use, and climate footprint to identify the most sustainable alternative.
\r\n
\r\nThe goal is to contribute to a sustainable healthcare system.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSupport program:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tInterreg \u00d6resund-Kattegat-Skagerrak<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProject duration:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t01.02.2024 – 31.01.2027<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProject budget:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2.836.988 EUR<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t![\"B\u00e6redygtig](\"https:\/\/sustainableendoscopes.forskning.eu\/wp-content\/themes\/oak-theme\/assets\/images\/placeholder.png\")
\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThe healthcare system needs to be sustainable.<\/h2>\n
In Denmark, the healthcare system is responsible for approximately 6% of the country’s total CO2 emissions*. In Sweden, the healthcare system’s impact on the climate is estimated to account for 3% of the country’s total consumption-based emissions*. It is therefore extremely important to actively work on sustainability across the healthcare system. <\/span><\/p>\nToday, sustainability is not just a choice, but an absolute necessity that has great significance for global public health. It is crucial that sustainability initiatives go hand in hand with an efficient, high-quality healthcare system, so that the solutions work when sustainability needs to be prioritized in a busy everyday environment.<\/p>\n
Hospitals and healthcare facilities’ efforts to contribute to a sustainable healthcare system must therefore be based on research and supported by data, so that we intervene where it truly makes a difference.
\nIn healthcare, sustainability is about more than just CO2 emissions. It is also about the sustainable use of personnel and financial resources, along with an ongoing, unwavering commitment to treatment quality and patient safety. Sustainability must therefore be integrated throughout, and the reduction of the climate footprint must be done responsibly.<\/p>\n
*Sources:
\nHealth Care Without Harm, \u201cHEALTH CARE\u2019S CLIMATE FOOTPRINT – Appendix A Tabulated national health care emissions for the 43 WIOD countries,\u201d 2019<\/h5>\nAxelsson K, Bell L, Gewecke H. Att se hela bilden \u2013 Del 2. Klimatp\u00e5verkan fr\u00e5n den offentliga sektorns konsumtion: Livsmedel och transporter. SEI working paper. Stockholm: Stockholm Environment Institute; 2018.<\/h5>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\tThe healthcare system and hospitals are major consumers of single-use equipment, which we know contributes to environmental strain and does not support a circular economy. Single-use equipment is a major burden on our climate, and in many places, there is a shift towards alternatives that can be reused in one way or another.<\/p>\n
However, there are several reasons why single-use equipment is still used in many parts of the healthcare system, including the fact that it is sterile. This means that the equipment does not need to be cleaned after use, a process that requires large amounts of water and soap containing harsh chemicals, which also contribute to environmental strain. Single-use equipment also eliminates any risks of transmission of multi-resistant bacteria, which, worst of all, can have serious consequences for the patient and can also be costly for the healthcare system.
Thus, there are several factors to consider when looking at sustainability in healthcare \u2013 considerations for the patient and healthcare professionals, as well as for the climate and a sustainable economy.<\/p>\n
Single-use or reusable?<\/h2>\n
The SUSUES project aims to develop a model for how tools like life cycle assessments can be used in the healthcare system to optimize sustainable strategies. In the project, the model is developed through a study of single-use endoscopes versus reusable endoscopes, with the goal of answering the question: is it overall more sustainable to use single-use endoscopes or reusable endoscopes?<\/p>\n
The Surgical Department at Zealand University Hospital has tested the use of single-use endoscopes for performing endoscopies (minimally invasive procedures and surgeries). However, the standard is to use reusable endoscopes of various types for this purpose.<\/p>\n
Endoscopies are performed in several hospital departments where there is a need to examine cavities in the body (mouth, intestines, ears, lungs, urinary tract). This can, for example, be in connection with the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTo examine the overall sustainability value chain, the project will compare the two endoscopes based on four parameters:<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThe healthcare system must reduce its climate footprint, but sustainability cannot be solely measured by CO2 emissions.
\r\nThis Swedish-Danish project compares reusable and single-use endoscopes in terms of clinical quality, economics, resource use, and climate footprint to identify the most sustainable alternative.
\r\n
\r\nThe goal is to contribute to a sustainable healthcare system.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"B\u00e6redygtig](\"https:\/\/sustainableendoscopes.forskning.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/07\/DSC0321_web-683x1024.jpg\")
\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\tThe healthcare system needs to be sustainable.<\/h2>\n
In Denmark, the healthcare system is responsible for approximately 6% of the country’s total CO2 emissions*. In Sweden, the healthcare system’s impact on the climate is estimated to account for 3% of the country’s total consumption-based emissions*. It is therefore extremely important to actively work on sustainability across the healthcare system. <\/span><\/p>\n Today, sustainability is not just a choice, but an absolute necessity that has great significance for global public health. It is crucial that sustainability initiatives go hand in hand with an efficient, high-quality healthcare system, so that the solutions work when sustainability needs to be prioritized in a busy everyday environment.<\/p>\n Hospitals and healthcare facilities’ efforts to contribute to a sustainable healthcare system must therefore be based on research and supported by data, so that we intervene where it truly makes a difference. The healthcare system and hospitals are major consumers of single-use equipment, which we know contributes to environmental strain and does not support a circular economy. Single-use equipment is a major burden on our climate, and in many places, there is a shift towards alternatives that can be reused in one way or another.<\/p>\n However, there are several reasons why single-use equipment is still used in many parts of the healthcare system, including the fact that it is sterile. This means that the equipment does not need to be cleaned after use, a process that requires large amounts of water and soap containing harsh chemicals, which also contribute to environmental strain. Single-use equipment also eliminates any risks of transmission of multi-resistant bacteria, which, worst of all, can have serious consequences for the patient and can also be costly for the healthcare system. The SUSUES project aims to develop a model for how tools like life cycle assessments can be used in the healthcare system to optimize sustainable strategies. In the project, the model is developed through a study of single-use endoscopes versus reusable endoscopes, with the goal of answering the question: is it overall more sustainable to use single-use endoscopes or reusable endoscopes?<\/p>\n The Surgical Department at Zealand University Hospital has tested the use of single-use endoscopes for performing endoscopies (minimally invasive procedures and surgeries). However, the standard is to use reusable endoscopes of various types for this purpose.<\/p>\n Endoscopies are performed in several hospital departments where there is a need to examine cavities in the body (mouth, intestines, ears, lungs, urinary tract). This can, for example, be in connection with the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\t
\nIn healthcare, sustainability is about more than just CO2 emissions. It is also about the sustainable use of personnel and financial resources, along with an ongoing, unwavering commitment to treatment quality and patient safety. Sustainability must therefore be integrated throughout, and the reduction of the climate footprint must be done responsibly.<\/p>\n*Sources:
\nHealth Care Without Harm, \u201cHEALTH CARE\u2019S CLIMATE FOOTPRINT – Appendix A Tabulated national health care emissions for the 43 WIOD countries,\u201d 2019<\/h5>\nAxelsson K, Bell L, Gewecke H. Att se hela bilden \u2013 Del 2. Klimatp\u00e5verkan fr\u00e5n den offentliga sektorns konsumtion: Livsmedel och transporter. SEI working paper. Stockholm: Stockholm Environment Institute; 2018.<\/h5>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\t
Thus, there are several factors to consider when looking at sustainability in healthcare \u2013 considerations for the patient and healthcare professionals, as well as for the climate and a sustainable economy.<\/p>\nSingle-use or reusable?<\/h2>\n
To examine the overall sustainability value chain, the project will compare the two endoscopes based on four parameters:<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t