Health Care and Waste Streams

Abstract

As we strive to deliver the highest level of care to our patients, we also have a responsibility to be intentional in our practice choices, recognizing their direct and indirect contributions to healthcare waste (HCW). Within dermatology, HCW is generated through daily clinic operations and both the consumption and disposal of procedural waste; this is in turn associated with greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts with potential downstream health harms. There are multiple mechanisms by which we can optimize dermatology waste management, ranging from modifying clinic workflows to being scrupulous with procedural supplies and intentional with waste disposal.

Keywords: Dermatology; Greenhouse gas emissions; Procedural waste; Waste management.