Environment and La Peer Health Systems

It is no secret that the effects of global warming and popular consumer trends have taken a severe toll on our environment. The average American alone contributes 4.5 pounds of garbage per day, according to data collected by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Even though the U.S. makes up only 5% of the world’s population, Americans produce 72% of all hazardous waste and consume 33% of the world’s paper.

La Peer Health Group understands the importance of being kind to our world and encourages other medical practices to educate their staff on the subject as well. There are so many things that the health care industry can do to minimize its effects on our environment – most of which are extremely simple.

Americans use 50 million tons of paper each year. This equals the consumption of nearly one billion trees. By simply being diligent about its paper usage, switching to a paperless records system and recycling paper products when possible, medical offices could have an extraordinary impact on those statistics. Most medical offices already use fluorescent lighting, which uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than the incandescent variety – which also helps cut down on electricity usage and byproducts.

Being selective when purchasing medical equipment is another way that health care professionals can create an eco-friendly office. The La Peer Surgery Center utilizes some of the most cutting-edge eco-friendly technology on the market today, like a fiber optic light system. This surgical lighting system provides superior lighting for optimal visualization during surgical procedures. The lighting system emits bright white light that closely resembles natural light and enhances tissue color definition. Both of these features can dramatically reduce the risk of eyestrain that surgeons may experience during long and detailed surgical procedures. Moreover, the lamp in the lighting system is environmentally friendly and does not contain mercury – so no special disposal or handling guidelines are required.