191903 HCOs and H2O: How health administrators can manage green sustainable water use in health care organizations

Tuesday, November 10, 2009: 12:30 PM

Peter C. Olden, PhD, MHA , Graduate Health Administration Program, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
Jonathan Forte, BS , Graduate Health Administration Program, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
        
Healthcare organizations (HCOs) use large amounts of water, produce large amounts of waste water, and are large threats to water sustainability. These HCOs are now expected to operate in a greener eco-friendly way to sustain water (and more generally the environment). Effective technological and management solutions are available, and some HCOs have demonstrated impressive results in managing, conserving, protecting, and sustaining water in their organizations and communities. Solutions can require changes in an HCO's mission, goals, structure, action plans, operational processes, finances, physical resources, human resources, behaviors, decisions, culture, control systems, and inter-organizational relationships. Health care administrators, leaders, and managers can apply management knowledge, skills, and abilities to implement organizational change to improve water sustainability.

Learning Objectives:
1) Explain how health care organizations (HCOs) use much water, produce much waste water, and jeopardize water sustainability. 2) List existing technological solutions that have already been applied in some HCOs to greatly reduce water use and waste water production. 3) Discuss management tools and methods administrators can use to implement change for better water sustainability in HCOs.

Keywords: Water, Sustainability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an MHA Student in the final year of my studies at the University of Scranton. I have a strong interest in the sustainability of healthcare organizations and the future of Green Healthcare. As a future healthcare administrator and public health professional I believe that change and adaptation are key to organizational success. I have done extensive research and literature review to prepare for this topic and feel I am able to provide insight on an issue which will be important for many years to come.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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