Caribou Rehab Nursing Center (CRNC) in the United States of America provides care for senior citizens at risk of illness, injuries, and negative aging impacts. The facility provides long term care that encompasses end of life care therapy, foot care, eye and dental care, speech therapy and nursing through a multidisciplinary plan. CRNC ensures clients are treated respectfully and accorded the dignity they deserve as older adults. The organization is headed by Phil Cyr and the mission statement is: “To treat all residents with dignity and respect and to provide appropriate nursing care to promote optimal physical and mental health. To provide opportunities to participate in activities that promotes individual well-being and maintains family and community relationships. To coordinate safe and appropriate discharge plan for residents who can return home or move to other more independent residential living arrangements” (Caribou Rehab & Nursing, n.d.).
Problem Statement
CRNC can reduce its current energy costs by half if it embraces my energy efficiency approach. The center uses non-renewable energy as fuel for its ambulances, staff vehicles, cooking and 100 watts of bulbs to light wards, hallways, kitchen, and other rooms which is expensive to sustain in the long term. During winter, the center incurs up to thrice its current fuel expenses in additional heating using non-renewable energy. My recommendation's mission is "To ensure sustainable energy for optimum efficiency at Caribou Rehab Nursing Center by 2025".
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Improving Energy Efficiency
The center can use modern technologies for energy purposes, such as concentrated solar power, thermal power, biomass, and biofuels. The facility needs gaseous, liquid, and solid biofuels for its energy requirements instead of non-renewable fuels for the above purposes (Fawzy et al., 2020). The center can use bioethanol, bio-methane, and bio-hydrogen to replace wood and natural gas in cooking. Further I propose using solar power instead of electricity during hot seasons. Finally, I recommend use of 50 Watts bulbs which are energy efficient compared to 100 Watts bulbs
Expected Outcome
If CRNC adopts the renewable energy proposal, it will reduce energy costs significantly. The amount saved from my proposal can be used in purchasing medication and medical equipment and hiring qualified nurses to improve patients’ care. In the long-run CRNC will save on energy costs and improve on patients’ outcome. I strongly recommend that CRNC adopts renewable energy to attain the outcomes indicted above.
Costs and Benefits associated with Improving Energy Efficiency
Garcia-Sanz-Calcebo, J., Al- Kassir, A. & Yusaf, T. (2018). Economic and environmental impact of energy-saving in healthcare buildings. Applied Sciences. 4(440): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/app8030440
The authors acknowledge that the healthcare sector plays an imperative role in the economy due to the large quantity of energy used. This, necessitates for development of energy efficient measures that enhance energy saving in health facilities. A Small hospital in consumes 40,000kwh annually and costs 84,000 Euros. 10% of this energy can be saved through adoption of energy saving techniques. Achieving this, requires use of high-energy control categories to control and monitor energy consumption. Therefore, CNRC must invest in new energy technologies which might be expensive but highly sustainable in the long run. Using stored thermal energy and heat pump instead of conventional gas- based boilers and water chillers can save up to 71% of the primary energy used. Changing the occupancy patterns in buildings might alter the energy consumption rates hence saving about 50% of the energy. Furthermore, the average ratio between thermal and electric loads allows the use of cogeneration systems. Optimizing the use of cogeneration systems saves energy and reduces the amount of carbon dioxide produced. Other strategies include optimizing electric energy installations, improving air conditioning and heating systems (HVAC), installing domestic eater heating (DWH), optimizing the lighting system, using renewable energy, maintenance management, improving thermal insulation and optimal sizing of buildings
Garcia-Sanz-Calcebo, J. (2014). Analysis of energy efficiency in healthcare buildings. Journal of Healthcare Engineering. 5(3); 361-374.
The article assesses cost and energy efficiency in healthcare buildings. The researcher states that on top of enhancing healthcare provision in such settings, managers should take an active role in managing energy and environmental emissions in healthcare settings. Energy can be saved through the reactive power compensation by installing power capacitors which are switched by contractors. The contractors are controlled by a regulator that measures the amount of power in every electrical network. Improving in-service water heating can also be used to enhance energy efficiency. In this case, the production of hot water using water heaters and storage tanks is controlled using programmed timers to prevent water misuse. Improving the lighting system by installing electronic ballast in fluorescent lamps and using high-performance lamps can control the amount of energy used. Also, improving the heating, cooling and ventilation systems by using better air conditioning techniques can minimize energy consumption. Using renewable energy sources can enhance sustainability at CNRC.
How Improving Energy Efficiency improves patient care and outcome
Mortimer, F., Isherwood, J., Wilkinson, A., & Vaux, E. (2018). Sustainability in quality improvement: redefining value. Future Healthcare Journal, 5 (2), 88-93. https://dx.doi.org/10.7861%2Ffuturehosp.5-2-88
The study shows that protecting sustainability in health care contributes to the sustainability of the entire society. The study found that health organizations should educate and train healthcare professionals to embrace sustainability in health care services. The research highlights Royal College of Physicians model which describes areas of capacity training for healthcare providers aimed at improving patient care and outcome.
Sustainability, efficiency, effectiveness, safety, patience experience and equity concepts in nursing education would help normalize the culture of resource management, future planning, and broader thinking. According to General Medical Council, demonstration of knowledge and skills improve sustainability in health organizations and helps in improving patient outcomes. The article identifies sustainability as a critical domain of quality healthcare in improving patient care and outcome. My emphasis is on sustainability through improvement of energy efficiency at CNRC.
Stadnyk, R. L., Lauckner, H., & Clarker, B. (2011). Improving quality of care in nursing homes: What works? CMAJ, 183 (11), 1238-1239. https://dx.doi.org/10.1503%2Fcmaj.110789
The authors focus on improvement of care at the nursing homes by promoting a culture of care and staff empowerment. They found two competing pressures in providing quality care in nursing homes. Firstly, is ensuring that resources are applied efficiently to provide quality outcomes. Secondly, is ensuring that the community culture can be homelike and residents-directed in acknowledging the nursing homes as a place where people can live and receive quality care. The authors assert that the nursing staff who provide immediate care to solve problems and decisions making with the residents should be empowered to improve performance. They conclude by noting that the adoption of caring models, such as Eden's alternative, helps remove incompetence, loneliness, and boredom and promotes the culture of care.
How Improving Energy Efficiency will reduce waste
Perry, P. (2014). Greener clinics, better care. AMA Journal of Ethics , 16 (9), 726-731. https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/greener-clinics-better-care/2014-09
Sustainability and environmental consciousness remain two of the most fundamental agendas in the contemporary healthcare environment. The article acknowledges that hospitals are heavy users of energy and water resources. Sustainability is crucial in managing healthcare costs and creating a resilient system that has long-term implications. The hospital management must develop environmentally-conscious healthcare facilities that save on crucial aspects such as water, energy, and material cost. Sustainable measures have a direct impact on quality control measures. Quality control measures are aimed at enhancing an efficient, safe, and effective environment for the patients. For example, using energy-saving bulbs in this facility would have two significant benefits. First, it will ensure that the hospital organization saves on the electricity bill. Secondly and most significantly, it will reduce the patients' exposure to extreme light conditions that could adversely affect their health.
Mortimer, F., Isherwood, J., Wilkinson, A., & Vaux, E. (2018). Sustainability in quality improvement: redefining value. Future Healthcare Journal , 5 (2), 88. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6502556/
The authors point to the link between sustainability, quality of healthcare and the impact on our environment and communities. Sustainable healthcare practices such as adoption of renewable energy help harness quality, improve patient outcome and reduce waste output and wastage. It emphasizes on the need for training healthcare practitioners in quality improvement. The authors concede that adopting sustainable healthcare measures safeguards the health of current and future generations my minimizing the contribution of healthcare services to climate change, for instance through pollution caused by non-renewable energy sources.
Scoville, R. (2017). 6 Essential Practices for Sustainable Improvement. Institute for Healthcare Improvement http://www.ihi.org/communities/blogs/six-essential-practices-for-sustainable-improvement Accessed April 25, 2021
As illustrated by the author, “Quality Improvement involves projects that utilize the scientific method to redesign care processes to increase their safety, efficiency, effectiveness or other desirable qualities that reduce waste” An example of a quality improvement procedure would be safe biohazard handling in the healthcare organization. Incineration has traditionally been utilized as the preferred disposal method. However, this process has health implications because it emits dangerous fumes that could cause respiratory problems. Earth-friendly measures such as autoclaves, hybrid systems, and microwave units are crucial aspects of quality improvements in the hospital facility.
Managing quality is aimed at appreciating the patient experience and designing the environment to reduce risks. Through quality planning, stakeholders in the healthcare fraternity can reduce the gaps in performance and gain the much-needed impetus required for improvement. Quality planning in the healthcare environment can encompass a wide array of processes such as reducing chemical exposure and conserving food and fuel. Strategies such as the lean model or six sigma methods would help CNRC achieve such objectives.
Community Partnerships and education programs
Haun, J. N., Patel, N. R., French, D. D., Campbell, R. R., Bradham, D. D., & Lapcevic, W. A. (2015). Association between health literacy and medical care costs in an integrated healthcare system: a regional population-based study. BMC health services research , 15 (1), 1-11.
The article points out that there is a positive relationship between health literacy and utilization of medical care and medical costs. People with less health education tend to visit health facilities frequently as they have more medical needs leading to higher costs of healthcare. A study. from a sample of 92,749 found that people with healthcare knowledge have fewer health needs and spend less on healthcare compared to those who are illiterate in health matters. Pharmaceutical needs challenge patients, especially from poor backgrounds, as drugs are expensive, which heavily impacts their health outcomes. When a patient with a chronic disease doesn't take prescriptions as instructed by a physician, complications will continue to visit a healthcare facility. Health literacy is closely related to medical costs and interventions must be designed to increase health literacy through community health partnerships as it will help reduce health care expenditure and needs.
Paterick, T. E., Patel, N., Tajik, A. J., & Chandrasekaran, K. (2017). Improving health outcomes through patient education and partnerships with patients. Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) , 30 (1), 112.
The authors indicate that cost is an issue affecting patient outcomes. Most patients, especially from poor backgrounds, lack health education, making them develop lifestyle complications such as obesity, malnutrition, and diabetes, thus need frequent hospital visits. Escalating costs of healthcare presently and in the future call for the need to educate members of society on healthcare matters as pertains lifestyle. In the United States, lack of health education such as tobacco use, less physical activities, and dietary patterns accounts for approximately 80% of premature deaths. The authors suggest that it is high time that physicians focus on promoting patient engagement and education through literacy improvement patients. Patients can be educated using various methods, including patient engagement in health facilities, workplaces, online blogs, and community-based resources. Patients with health literacy will live healthy lives, which reduces their frequency of visiting health facilities.
References
Caribou Rehab & Nursing. (n.d.). About us . Caribou Rehab & Nursing - Long Term Care for Northern Maine. https://www.caribourehab.com/about-us.html
Fawzy, S., Osman, A. I., Doran, J., & Rooney, D. W. (2020). Strategies for mitigation of climate change: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters , 2069–2094. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01059-w
Garcia-Sanz-Calcebo, J. (2014). Analysis of energy efficiency in healthcare buildings. Journal of Healthcare Engineering. 5(3); 361-374.
Garcia-Sanz-Calcebo, J., Al- Kassir, A. & Yusaf, T. (2018). Economic and environmental impact of energy-saving in healthcare buildings. Applied Sciences. 4(440): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/app8030440
Haun, J. N., Patel, N. R., French, D. D., Campbell, R. R., Bradham, D. D., & Lapcevic, W. A. (2015). Association between health literacy and medical care costs in an integrated healthcare system: a regional population based study. BMC health services research , 15 (1), 1-11.
Mortimer, F., Isherwood, J., Wilkinson, A., & Vaux, E. (2018). Sustainability in quality improvement: redefining value. Future Healthcare Journal, 5 (2), 88-93. https://dx.doi.org/10.7861%2Ffuturehosp.5-2-88
Mortimer, F., Isherwood, J., Wilkinson, A., & Vaux, E. (2018). Sustainability in quality improvement: redefining value. Future Healthcare Journal , 5 (2), 88. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6502556/
Paterick, T. E., Patel, N., Tajik, A. J., & Chandrasekaran, K. (2017). Improving health outcomes through patient education and partnerships with patients. Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) , 30 (1), 112.
Perry, P. (2014). Greener clinics, better care. AMA Journal of Ethics , 16 (9), 726-731. https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/greener-clinics-better-care/2014-09
Scoville, R. (2017). 6 Essential Practices for Sustainable Improvement. Institute for Healthcare Improvement http://www.ihi.org/communities/blogs/six-essential-practices-for-sustainable-improvement Accessed April 25, 2021
Stadnyk, R. L., Lauckner, H., & Clarker, B. (2011). Improving quality of care in nursing homes: What works? CMAJ, 183 (11), 1238-1239. https://dx.doi.org/10.1503%2Fcmaj.110789
