Sustainable health care: a real-world appraisal of a modern imaging department

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: There is universal interest in increasing sustainability in health care, including in imaging. We studied and characterized energy consumption in a representative imaging department in Denmark to identify and quantify the effect of specific optimizations.

METHODS: Protocols and energy parameters for the three main scanner modalities along with supportive systems and workflows were monitored and scrutinized. Potential savings were measured and/or calculated.

RESULTS: Only few optimizations were identified at the protocol level. However, examination of usage patterns and cooling systems revealed numerous potential optimizations which fell into three categories. 1) Optimizations requiring minimal changes in installations or workflows, for example, reduction of bed-position time, 2) optimizations requiring altered work flows such as strict adherence to timed shut-down procedures and 3) optimizations requiring retro-fitting equipment, typically at considerable monetary expense, for example fitting variable flow control on pumps. The single biggest identified optimization was raising the temperature of the circulating cooling water.

CONCLUSION: This study highlights the complexity of increasing sustainability in health care, specifically in imaging. We identified multiple potential optimizations but also technical, monetary and organizational barriers preventing immediate implementation.