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Example of an ecologically sustainable medical practice

Publikationsdatum: 2. April 2025
Letzte Änderung: 3. April, 2025

The general medical practice in French-speaking Switzerland with around 8 employees offers comprehensive medical services and focuses on sustainability through energy-efficient heating systems, sustainable clothing solutions, telemedicine and bicycle courier services.

Goal 1

We will reduce the energy consumption of our medical practice for heating and hot water by 15% by 2026.

Measures

  • Lowering the room temperature in practice by 1.5 to 3 °C to minimise energy consumption without compromising comfort.
  • Retrofit the practice rooms with high-quality insulation on windows, doors and walls to reduce heat loss and cut heating costs in the long term.
  • Install sensor-controlled instantaneous water heaters that only provide hot water in the areas of the practice where it is needed, such as the treatment rooms and sanitary facilities.
  • Implement an intelligent, programmable thermostat system that automatically adjusts the heating times and temperatures in the various practice rooms to actual usage requirements.

Goal 2

By 2024, we will ensure the privacy and data protection of 100% of treatment data while improving transparency for people undergoing treatment.

Measures

  • Implement state-of-the-art encryption technologies for the storage and transmission of medical data during treatment and beyond.
  • Develop and implement detailed data protection protocols and policies that integrate all aspects of data security, including the collection, storage, processing and transmission of medical data.
  • Conduct annual audits and security reviews of the data protection management system to prevent cyberattacks and review the latest best practices.
  • Introduce a data protection-compliant patient portal that enables secure and user-friendly access to personal health data through advanced authentication and encryption.

Goal 3

By 2026, we will reduce our tCO2eq emissions from operations by 80% by optimising anaesthetic gases.

Measures

  • Increase the use of climate-friendly anaesthetic gases such as sevoflurane, propofol, isoflurane or total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA), where medically justifiable, instead of desflurane, nitrous oxide (N₂O), enflurane or halothane.
  • Promote the use of oxygen-air mixtures instead of pure oxygen.
  • Implement gas phase separation technologies to recover anaesthetic gases and reduce tCO2eq emissions.
  • Increase non-gas-based anaesthesia procedures through greater use of intravenous anaesthesia (IV anaesthesia), total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA), regional anaesthesia or hypnosis and sedation.

Goal 4

By 2026, we will reduce the amount of waste from our medical practice in relation to clothing and linen by 25%.

Measures

  • Procure durable, ecologically certified workwear made from natural, resistant materials that need to be replaced less frequently.
  • Implement a clothing rental system for doctors' surgeries that reduces resource consumption, extends the life of textiles and reduces textile waste by encouraging sharing and repeated use.
  • Introduce a centralised laundry distribution system (cf. selection) of a textile care service provider) to optimise the washing process through energy-efficient machines, their utilisation and environmentally friendly detergents, while maintaining hygiene standards.
  • Introduce reusable textiles instead of disposable clothing such as patient gowns, surgical drapes and protective clothing in treatment rooms, operating theatres and care areas.

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