A Kimberley-based physician, Dr. Ilona Hale, and a team of health care professionals, have produced a new resource, specifically aimed at clinicians called sa国际传媒楶lanetary Health for Primary Caresa国际传媒�.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 an online guide for healthcare providers meant to make the job of reducing our environmental impact in healthcare easier,sa国际传媒� said Dr. Hale. sa国际传媒淭he Planetary Health for Primary Care guide offers a new way to think about the problem and practical tips on incorporating solutions into everyday clinical practice.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚 think a lot of people in health care are looking for ways to make a difference,sa国际传媒� she said.

The guide outlines ways clinicians can be climate advocates in their day to day work.

But itsa国际传媒檚 not just the standard green office practices, Hale says.

And for health care, it can go far beyond turning off lights and trying to use less paper.

The health care sector is one of the most polluting sectors, contributing five per cent of Canadasa国际传媒檚 total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Hale says a study in the UK a couple of years ago found that 80 per cent of the pollution created by the healthcare industry is related to medications and lab test.

sa国际传媒淭his resource outlines different strategies that address the bigger impactssa国际传媒攖he upstream waste generated in the supply chain to produce materials required for medications, lab tests, surgeries, and hospitalizationssa国际传媒攁nd offers tangible actions to decrease it, such as reducing unnecessary care, empowering patients, and shifting to prevention.sa国际传媒�

Itsa国际传媒檚 going to require physicians to think differently about the care they provide, she says. And itsa国际传媒檚 all part of the move to thinking about wellness and prevention.

sa国际传媒淚f you do a good job on wellness, no one really notices,sa国际传媒� she said. Our system, she says is geared to providing tools, and medications, for various acute illnesses.

sa国际传媒淭he people who make the drugs are motivated by that,sa国际传媒� she said.

But what if physicians, instead of just prescribing medication for say, blood pressure, spent more time talking to patients about eating healthier and a better diet, that could lead to them not needing medication at all?

sa国际传媒淎 lot of the tools to fix people are just common sense but we donsa国际传媒檛 think about it,sa国际传媒� Hale said.

The Planetary Health for Primary Care guide can be accessed by the public on the website or by healthcare providers on , a comprehensive, password-protected physiciansa国际传媒檚 resource website.

Asked about getting buy-in to the guide, she said it will take time, but in speaking to individual practitioners she thinks they are interested. And the Ministry of Health is getting more and more interested in environmental impacts, she says.

The steps suggested in the guide are fairly straightforward:

sa国际传媒� De-prescribe whenever appropriate.

sa国际传媒� Ensure diagnosis of asthma or COPD have been confirmed when refilling inhalers

sa国际传媒� Think of ways to reduce driving and encourage patients and staff to do same

sa国际传媒� Start writing social/nature/exercise prescriptions

sa国际传媒� Celebrate every patient who quits smoking in some way

sa国际传媒� Avoid unnecessary testing

Hale notes environmental action in healthcare is becoming an increasingly important topic, and there is strong potential that sustainability will soon become a necessary component of value in the healthcare system.

sa国际传媒淟ow-carbon, high-quality care is a win-win-win: it improves patient care, reduces our environmental impact, reduces our workload, saves money in the system, and increases equity,sa国际传媒� said Dr. Hale.

The Planetary Health for Primary Care guide was supported by the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice and Cascades Canada, a Government of Canada initiative. Prior to writing the guide, a working group on Planetary Health in Primary Care was engaged. As well, a multi-disciplinary review was conducted in two rounds by healthcare professionals from across Canada along with input from patient partners.

carolyn.grant@kimberleybulletin.com
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