Building a sustainable health-care system

On Earth Day 2022, IH committed to eliminating Styrofoam use in food services. We are working with our vendors and the Provincial Health Services Authority to identify alternatives that maintain the quality of patient care and safety.

Anesthetic gases are a potent source of greenhouse gas emissions. They reduce air quality and contribute to climate change. They can also present an occupational health and safety hazard to operating room staff if not properly ventilated. In Kamloops, Royal Inland Hospital’s 11 operating rooms now recover almost all anesthetic gases using canisters, which are then sent away for processing. Read the media release here.

Invermere’s Sustainability Committee planted a wildflower garden to reduce water use, increase pollination, and provide a healing space for patients.

Family physician Dr. Ilona Hale, a clinical researcher and avid gardener in Kimberley, has developed a guide for more environmentally sustainable practices in primary care, focusing on four principles of sustainable practice: prevention, patient self-care, lean service delivery, and low carbon alternatives.

In Cranbrook, East Kootenay Regional Hospital has been working with an external building systems energy specialist to complete a number of upgrades to the building systems. Once these energy conservation measures are implemented, we estimate we will achieve a 23 per cent reduction on greenhouse gas emissions, and realize energy savings of 19 per cent.

We’ve released the 2022–23 Strategic Energy Management Plan that outlines how we will meet our long-term energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. In 2023, we have also developed the Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap.

Sustainability Committees have been established in Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton and Invermere. The number of staff engaged with local committees has increased 166 per cent in the past year.

Each day, Interior Health contributes to enhancing a culture of sustainability through transparency, communication and understanding that individuals can and do make a difference. In 2023 and beyond, we will continue to strive for meaningful environmental improvements in our communities and across our operations.

Learn more about:

Our climate action vision and efforts

Climate resiliency and planning

How we're building a sustainable health-care system