Symposium on Sustainability in Health Care

As health systems face growing pressure to address environmental challenges, decarbonization has emerged as a critical focus. This panel brings together leaders in healthcare decarbonization and/or sustainability to discuss the strategies, challenges, and successes of integrating decarbonization into their organizational priorities. Explore how making environmental impact a strategic imperative not only aligns with global health objectives but also strengthens connections to the communities these systems serve. Panelists will share actionable insights on engaging stakeholders, addressing risk, and involving industry partners, while balancing financial and operational considerations. Join us to discover how decarbonization is reshaping the future of healthcare delivery.

Evidence-based design (EBD) applies credible research to shape healthcare facility environments, ensuring optimal outcomes for patients while enhancing the built environment’s functionality. Historically, many healthcare facilities were designed with a primary focus on provider workflows, often neglecting the patient’s needs and unintentionally creating inefficiencies. With advancements in technology and research, healthcare providers now have access to proven strategies for creating facilities that balance efficiency and patient-centered care.

However, implementing EBD principles can be challenging for providers who may perceive these strategies as cost-prohibitive. To address this, it is essential to educate decision-makers about research quantifying the long-term value of EBD in improving patient outcomes, operational workflows, and facility sustainability. Aligning EBD with evidence-based medicine (EBM)—which emphasizes the conscientious use of the best current evidence in patient care—ensures the built environment supports a holistic approach to delivering efficient, high-quality healthcare.

Exploring transformation within healthcare delivery settings, from traditional inpatient hospitals to innovative, technology-driven environments that meet patients where they are. We’ll examine the implications this shift has on patient outcomes and accessibility, and what this means for the future of healthcare infrastructure.

In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare environment, effective infrastructure planning is more critical than ever. Infrastructure master planning serves as a blueprint for the future, ensuring that organizations can meet their current needs while preparing for long-term growth and challenges. This presentation will explore why infrastructure master planning should be a top priority. Proper planning enables smart investments that prevent costly delays, reduce the risk of infrastructure failures, and extend the lifespan of assets, ultimately leading to greater economic value. This presentation will leave you with actionable insights on how to build a robust, adaptable, and financially sound infrastructure strategy that prepares you for the future while creating lasting value.

Today, most industries in the United States are finding new ways of becoming more environmentally sustainable to cut costs and/or fulfill their corporate citizenship missions. Although hospitals and other healthcare organizations are conscious of these efforts, they face the unique challenges of round-the-clock operations, hazardous waste management, large-scale staffing, and extreme energy consumption. Healthcare leaders are aware of the role their organizations play in the community, but sometimes are unsure how they can make the business case for going green to their board or staff. By learning from peers, this session will address the myriad ways to change the culture of the organization; cut operating costs and improve staff recruitment, retention, and patient satisfaction; and gain visibility and credibility within the community as an exemplar for environmental sustainability.