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Is Decarbonization in Health Care Possible?

Entry Exterior (“Buckyball” Sculpture) - Stanford Adult Hospital                                 © Will Pryce Photography

 

Description: 

The climate is changing. ASHRAE tells us that the US is warming at least a degree a decade. We are experiencing more frequent and more intense severe weather events. We are experiencing movement of disease vectors and changing health threats. In the face of these changes, the healthcare system must adapt and must plan for resilience. This is not a political issue; rather, it’s physics, and it’s an issue with lasting devasting effects (exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius) if ignored or treated with a lack of urgency. We know that the healthcare sector represents roughly 20% of the US economy; 10% of US greenhouse gas emissions; 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. How can/is healthcare legitimately removing carbon from the delivery of care (i.e. carbon-free care)? Is it fully possible? Join this unique webinar, designed as a panel forum, to hear the owner-side of the equation and engineering/consulting side. Helen Wilmot, Chief Facilities & Sustainability Officer Stanford Health Care and Walt Vernon, CEO of Mazzetti & National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative Steering Committee member, will provide candid, and perhaps unexpected perspectives on the most relevant topic impacting human health — decarbonization. Stanford Health Care (SHC), in many ways, is the leading the decarbonization charge in the industry. Discover how SHC is addressing the obvious barriers of “dependence on fossil fuels” to perform essential tasks — heating, humidifying, sterilization — as well as the somewhat less obvious barriers re fleet and medical gasses. Discover how the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative to decarbonize the U.S. Healthcare is addressing operational pathways, including healthcare delivery (e.g. “hospital at home”), supply chain, financing, regulation, and even relevant education and communication for various stakeholders.

Learning objectives

  • Understand the components of operational greenhouse gas emissions in healthcare.
  • Recognize and assess the complexities and opportunities of carbon-free care from an owner’s perspective and that of the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative. 
  • Evaluate evolving healthcare delivery models designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
  • Understand the national discussion on operational greenhouse gas emissions. 

This session was recorded live on October 18, 2022.

Dunlevie Gardens - Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford                                              © Leslie Williamson

User rating:
4.666665
Average: 4.7 (15 votes)
 $45  non-member
 $30  member
1.00 LU
  • HSW

Instructors

  • John Kreidich

    AIA

    Retired Healthcare Architect / Construction Executive

    John Kreidich, now retired, from 2000-2018, the go-to resource for hospital‐related safety,...
  • Christina Vernon Sanborn

    AIA, LEED AP

    Associate Principal, Senior Decarbonization Specialist | Mazzetti

    Christina Vernon Sanborn is a registered architect with more than 20 years’ experience, focused on...
  • Walt Vernon

    PE, LEED AP, EDAC, MBA, JD, LLM

    CEO | Mazzetti & NAM Action Collaborative Steering Committee Member

    Walt is the CEO of Mazzetti, an employee-owned Benefit Corporation focused on Bending the Climate...
  • Helen Wilmot

    Chief Facilities & Sustainability Officer - General Services and Space Planning | Stanford Health Care

    Helen Wilmot holds the title of Chief Facilities Officer – General Services and Space Planning at...