How are we engaging for planetary health?

Explore and adopt engagement strategies from across BC

Below are a few of many examples of how Facility Engagement is supporting Medical Staff Association (MSA) initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of health care facilities across BC.

Reach out to your Engagement Partner to learn more and connect with other MSAs.

Exam Table Paper — BC Cancer Agency Planetary Health Unit eliminates routine use of exam paper, saving $3,974 annually

Activities and initiatives

INTERIOR HEALTH: Regional Table for Planetary Health aligns MSAs and health authority strategic priorities.

Enabling physician input into Interior Health’s climate change and sustainability roadmap and recommendations.
Initiating climate conscious inhaler pilot, provincial knowledge sharing event, and collaborating for a planetary health leadership position within the health authority.
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HAIDA GWAII: Locally sourced, traditional Haida foods added to the hospital menu, increasing patient satisfaction and reducing costs by 20%.

Restoring on-site hospital food preparation by working with Northern Health’s regional diet office, coordinating the food service transition within health authority guidelines and processes.
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BC CANCER: Planetary Health Unit eliminates routine use of exam paper, saving $3,974 annually.

Supporting cross-disciplinary teams in implementing low carbon, sustainable changes throughout BC Cancer, involving physicians and BC Cancer’s senior leadership team.
Eliminating the routine use of exam table paper at four BC Cancer centres: Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, and Surrey.
Working with Diagnostic Imaging to lower power use of CT scanners and collaborating with GreenCare to improve clinical waste management across BC Cancer facilities.
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VANCOUVER: Planetary Health Committee empowers physicians to become planetary health leaders in their professional lives.

Creating a joint committee of medical staff and VCH representatives in support of planetary health.
Holding a speaker series to raise awareness about Parks Prescriptions (PaRx), Climate Conscious Medication Management, reducing the impact of inpatient inhalers, hospital food waste, and ensuring plant-based options to improve patient health with food as medicine.
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SOUTH ISLAND: Environmental lens on Island Health practices reduces waste and enables physician involvement in health authority Climate Change Steering Committee.

Supporting MSA-led planetary health working group projects including recycling masks, reusable cloth gowns, reusable cups for patients, requesting recycling containers to divert waste, recycling plastic waste from IV tubing, and influencing less wasteful procurement practices.
Significantly reducing inhaler use/waste in the hospital at Royal Jubilee Hospital through a QI-informed project.

PEACE ARCH HOSPITAL: Physician input into health authority Planetary Health Strategy.

Supporting an interactive workshop to share knowledge, ideas, and influence strategy development on Fraser Health’s four draft priorities on environmental sustainability.

PROVIDENCE HEALTH CARE: Planetary health event shares physician-led projects and inspires regional engagement.

Showcasing projects that include reducing unnecessary lab testing, food waste, and emissions, using virtual care, decreasing anesthetic agent carbon footprint in the operating room, reducing heparin to also improve patient outcomes, reducing the impact of pressurized meter dose inhalers.
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INVERMERE HOSPITAL: MSA partnership with Interior Health Environmental Sustainability Committee promotes planetary health.

Supporting physician participation with nurses and other allied health care workers, to improve recycling, promote sustainable food and beverage containers at the hospital, and encourage active transportation during “bike to work” week.

KOOTENAY LAKE HOSPITAL: Engaging in Climate Action Working Group engages 25% of medical staff in planetary health initiatives.

Developing and sharing two educational infographics throughout the Kootenay Boundary region focusing on climate-conscious inhaler prescribing, and staying safe during wildfire season.
Working with site-level health authority partners to create a bike room in support of active transportation, completing the Green Hospital Scorecard to track and reduce facility emissions, and launching the “Gloves Off” campaign to educate staff on limiting excessive use of gloves.