Climate Change and Otolaryngology – Focus on Climate Health, Sustainability in Healthcare, and Surgeon Advocacy (2022 AMW)
2022 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO Experience
Climate change has widespread impacts on public health, from increasing the number of heat extremes to worsening pollen allergies. The recently released Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change calls climate change a “code red for a healthy future". As the health concerns of climate change grow, it is imperative that surgeons increase their awareness of climate health as it relates to their patients. In addition, there is an important role that surgeons can partake in, both in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and in being effective climate advocates. In the United States, the healthcare sector is responsible for 8-10% of GHG emissions. Surgery, in particular, is cost-, energy- and waste-intensive – with operating rooms (ORs) utilizing three to six times more energy than other areas of the hospital and generating two-thirds of a facility’s hazardous waste. During this panel presentation, you will hear from otolaryngologists who will describe the health concerns of climate change and how to be a climate advocate. They will describe their experience in increasing climate change awareness in their communities and how they helped develop sustainability committees at their institutions. You will also hear from an expert in “greening the OR” from Practice Greenhealth, who will share industry best practices and describe the cost-savings that can be incurred from implementing sustainability initiatives. Discussion points for this panel presentation will include the public health burden of climate change, the effects of climate change and air pollution on allergic rhinitis, and the effect of climate change on vulnerable populations. In addition, we will discuss mitigation strategies for the OR, the economic benefits of “going green”, as well as how surgeons can be effective climate advocates. Otolaryngologists at all levels of training should leave this session understanding the health impacts of climate change, how to integrate sustainability initiatives into their practices, and how to be effective climate advocates in their communities.
Credits
CME:1.0, MOC:1.0