Progress Notes Issue 59: 13 Tips to a Green Practice
NP Business Tip: 13 Tips to a Green Practice Having a greener practice is just not about color. Nor is it about a green eyed monster. Instead today, green is about being eco-friendly by recycling as much as you can, purchasing recycled products, and in general reducing your consumption of goods that may adversely impact the environment. A greener practice may not only reduce your business carbon footprint, but it may green up your wallet as well. Here are some tips that you can implement in your office today.
- Do you really need to print that to paper? Not only will you save paper, but ink as well. Consider if that document can be printed to PDF and saved to your document management system.
- Don't copy and print when you can scan.
- Got clean? Consider switching to eco-friendly cleaning products from a sustainable company.
- Recycle at the office. These days it's easy to recycle paper, plastics, aluminum. Replace disposable dishes with china dishware. Staff can bring in extra dishes from home, or purchase a good used set at the local thrift store.
- Red waste. Sometimes, in a hurry, people will drop anything into the biohazard rather than regular trash. Check to see if your staff is utilizing "red bag" disposables appropriately.
- Keep it out of the landfill. Consider buying gently used medical equipment.
- Refills. Many office supply places now will allow you to recycle printer cartridges and toner drums.
- Duplex. If you have to print, then utilize both sides of the paper. Many references are available now online - including many medical texts and coding tools. You need not worry about what to do with those outdated texts.
- EMR. Getting started with an EMR is a huge step in the right direction when it comes having a green office. Wondering what to do with those paper charts? After they have been scanned, they can be shredded appropriate and the paper recycled.
- Sharing medical records? See if the requesting office will accept records as a pdf file on disc, or better yet, as a secured file transfer.
- Sell or donate your used computer equipment, books and medical equipment. You'll often find eager recipients at colleges and charitable organizations.
- Using light bulbs? Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. It'll save money and energy.
Don't keep your green efforts to yourself. Engage you staff in following the new procedures and offer to share your philosophy with patients. You'll be surprised at how many of them will support your efforts.
NPBO™ Action Steps:
- Go through your practice and identify three areas that you can green up this week.
- Bring staff together to get their ideas and buy in.
- Develop a policy and procedure on how to transfer records and otherwise share records utilizing either a CD or secure online transfer.
© 2010, Barbara C. Phillips, NP. All Rights Reserved.
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