Reducing Discharge Paperwork For Knee Arthroplasty Patients: A Sustainable Quality Improvement Project

Description

The presentation by Perry Liu focuses on a quality improvement project aimed at enhancing sustainability practices at the South-West London Elective Orthopedic Centre (SWLEOC). Liu highlights the pressing issue of climate change, framing it as one of the greatest threats faced by humanity according to the United Nations. He discusses the substantial carbon footprint attributed to the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that encompasses environmental, financial, and social sustainability.



A particular intervention introduced at SWLEOC involves reducing paper waste from discharge summaries for knee arthroplasty patients. Traditionally, each discharge summary includes four sheets of paper, contributing significantly to waste in operating rooms. The solution proposed is to replace this with a concise A5 discharge card that contains all essential patient information, including QR codes for accessing further resources. Liu presents data indicating that by implementing this change, the centre could expect to halve the paper waste generated, translating to a reduction of approximately 14 kg of CO2 emissions annually and a modest financial saving of about £38.



Liu concludes by asserting that this simple yet effective change allows the multidisciplinary team at SWLEOC to actively participate in sustainability efforts without compromising patient care. He invites questions to facilitate further discussion, underscoring his commitment to fostering sustainable practices in healthcare.

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