Eight tips to make your practice greener

Care for your patients while also caring for the environment with these tips for building a greener practice.

1. Replace printed flyers with QR codes

You’d be hard pressed to find a patient these days who doesn’t have a smartphone. Look for opportunities throughout the office to use QR codes to direct patients to a landing page instead of handing out printed material.

2. Modernize patient check-in with a tablet

The benefits of electronic paperwork extend well beyond saving pens and paper. Checking in with a tablet is faster, more accurate and can be integrated to allow patients to complete documents in advance using their own devices.

3. Replace single-use plastic with compostable

Something as simple as switching to compostable rinsing cups can make an impact when you add up how many cups are tossed in the trash every year. While it can be difficult to reduce single-use disposable items in a sterile setting, there are alternatives available that will lower your footprint.

4. Improve inventory management systems

From rotating stock to making smarter ordering decisions, taking control of your supply room can help the environment while adding to your bottom line.

5. Keep an eye on unnecessary waste

Everyone can be guilty of falling into patterns that are unnecessarily wasteful, especially at work. Make a point of identifying the wasteful things you do and make a conscious effort to correct the behavior. Share the changes you’ve made with your team in the morning huddle and encourage staff to do the same.

6. Perform a lighting audit

Swapping out old bulbs for LEDs can make an impact in a business setting where the lights are on all day long.

7. Provide reusable flasks to your team

It makes sense for the patient coffee station and water cooler to use disposable cups, but for staff, reusable is the way to go. Get insulated thermos bottles printed with the practice logo for a fun employee gift.

8. Caulk and weatherstrip windows and exterior doors

Do you know how much energy your practice is losing through drafty windows and doors? Contact your local utility company about running an energy check at your practice and seal up gaps to keep your office insulated. This is especially important if your practice is in an older building.