By Melissa Silverberg
During a Wednesday poster presentation, Karen Ramirez Suarez, MD, post-doctoral research fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), described the impacts and possible solutions to mitigate environmental harm.
“Radiology, though essential, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and waste, making it critical to examine how we can mitigate these effects,” said Dr. Ramirez Suarez, referencing data that the U.S. healthcare system contributes 8.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with radiology accounting for approximately 1% of this impact.
“This project allowed us to explore practical interventions within pediatric radiology that align with our responsibility to reduce environmental harm while maintaining high-quality patient care,” she said.
Dr. Ramirez Suarez worked with Sweta Parmar, PhD, at CHOP’s Department of Radiology on this project to develop environmentally sustainable health practices.
“My passion for this topic stems from my background in human factors engineering (HFE). A systems design approach grounded in HFE can help by aligning human needs, capabilities, and limitations with sustainable practices that benefit individuals, organizations and the environment,” Dr. Parmar said.
There can be a substantial amount of waste in pediatric radiology. For example, two CT scanners generate about 20 mL of unused iodinated contrast volume per vial because the single-use vials are supplied in volumes much larger than needed for smaller pediatric patients according to weight-based dosing.
Iodine is a non-renewable resource with high cost of extraction and significant environmental and health impacts. The wasted chemicals along with 3,000 plastic contrast vials and 2,000 power injector syringes that are discarded annually contribute to environmental waste, Dr. Parmar noted. Transitioning from single-does vials to multi-dose vials for CT contrast can significantly cut down on both waste and costs.
CHOP is exploring initiatives to eliminate single-use plastics and enhancing recycling practices and education about the importance of recycling, among other solutions.
“Encouraging small changes in radiology departments can significantly impact the environment over time,” Dr. Parmar said. For instance, unused imaging workstations, often left idling, consume significant energy, but if radiologists set their monitors to sleep after 15-20 minutes of inactivity, that small action will reduce power consumption, extend monitor lifespan and save money.
Making changes can be difficult at first, mostly in overcoming people’s ingrained habits and cognitive biases against change.
“The most challenging aspect in promoting environmentally friendly choices is the human element. The science of behavioral nudges and framing can help address some of this resistance,” Dr. Parmar said. “By presenting information in a way that highlights the benefits of environmentally friendly choices, these strategies can make sustainable actions more appealing and easier for people to adopt.”
Dr. Ramirez Suarez said the project is a call to action for all radiologists to integrate sustainability into their everyday practices.
“We hope to inspire radiologists to recognize the vital role they play in advancing sustainable healthcare practices. By focusing on simple yet impactful adjustments, such as reducing waste and optimizing energy usage, we can collectively contribute to a more sustainable health care environment,” Dr. Ramirez Suarez said. “By taking incremental steps, we can collectively reduce the environmental footprint of health care and ensure a healthier future for both our patients and the planet.”
Access the education exhibit, “Sustaining the Future of Pediatric Radiology,” (PDEE-80) on demand at RSNA.org/MeetingCentral.
© 2024 RSNA.
The RSNA 2024 Daily Bulletin is the official publication of the 110th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Published online Sunday, December 1 — Friday, December 6.
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