A Sustainable Future for Otolaryngology (2023 AMW)
2023 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO Experience
Climate change is a global public health emergency with well-documented effects on disease development, access to health care and health outcomes. Without reductions in current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the World Health Organization estimates that 250,000 deaths per year from 2030 to 2050 will be attributable to climate change. Like other global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of climate change will disproportionately burden vulnerable and historically marginalized populations within the United States (US) and globally. In the US, the healthcare sector is responsible for nearly 10% of GHG emissions annually. In order to effectively reduce emissions within your practice, a systematic emissions assessment is required. During this panel presentation, you will hear from otolaryngologists who have increased climate change awareness in their communities and are actively implementing sustainability initiatives at their institutions. Discussion points will include the public health burden of climate change, the effects of climate change and air pollution on allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis, the carbon footprint of surgery, mitigation strategies for the OR and the economic benefits of “going green.” This panel will focus on three high yield, accessible sustainability options – tray reformulation, anesthetic choices, and reusable equipment. Otolaryngologists at all levels of training should leave this session feeling empowered to integrate evidence-based sustainability initiatives into their practices and/or propose the development of a sustainability committee at their institutions.
Credits
CME:1.0, MOC:1.0