The healthcare industry prioritizes patient well-being and ensuring a safe and healthy environment for both staff and patients plays a crucial role in that. Healthcare professionals already have significant responsibilities and patient documentation to complete. By utilizing Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) software, healthcare facilities can more easily manage other critical aspects like safety, regulatory compliance, and sustainability.
Enhanced Safety Measures
EHS software can foster a proactive and preventative safety culture in healthcare facilities when leveraged beyond basic incident tracking.
- Incident Tracking and Reporting: EHS software is an easy way for employees to track safety incidents and near misses as they occur. It is a way for events to be described, categorized, and to determine if any next steps are required. Having software accessible to all employees (e.g., kiosk) also allows any employee to report an incident or near miss.
- Corrective Action Management: Based on the severity and nature of the incident, corrective action may be needed to prevent similar incidents in the future. EHS software streamlines the process of responding to incidents by providing a central platform for assigning corrective actions, tracking progress, and ensuring their completion. This ensures that identified issues are addressed promptly and effectively.
- Safety Data Analysis: By analyzing safety data and trends, areas for improvement become evident. Data analytics can provide insights on the types of injuries occurring, which positions have the most frequent injuries, and which departments or locations are incidents occurring at the highest rates. It can provide useful information when rates suddenly increase, indicating a need for investigation and intervention. Using EHS software data analytic tools enables healthcare facilities to allocate resources effectively and target high-risk areas.
- Training Management: EHS software offers a way to centralize training modules and oversight on tracking scores and completion rates. Software can be used to deliver role-specific training, leveraging content from multiple providers, ensuring staff are prepared for the specific hazards they encounter in their daily tasks. It can schedule and track in-person trainings and automate reminders for when refresher courses or certification renewals are required.
- Risk Management: EHS software supports risk management by enabling facilities to identify risks and establish mitigation procedures. Software can be used to conduct hazard assessments for equipment, onsite supplies and waste, and work areas. Additionally, the software can be integrated with building management systems to monitor environmental factors like temperature or air quality that could pose safety risks.
Healthcare facilities can be proactive in their approach to workplace safety by utilizing EHS software to comprehensively understand incidents and risks so that adequate corrective actions and mitigation measures can be implemented.
Streamlined Regulatory Compliance
Healthcare facilities have to fulfill multiple requirements for numerous regulatory authorities and EHS software can simplify compliance.
- Regulatory Tracking: The landscape of healthcare, safety, and environmental regulations is ever-changing and it’s important to keep up to date on new requirements. EHS software is an easy way to keep track of relevant regulations and updates from federal, state, and local agencies. This ensures the facility remains compliant with evolving standards, reducing the risk of fines and penalties. Advanced software can even provide automated alerts when new regulations are published, or existing ones are modified.
- Task Management: Compliance often involves recurring tasks such as inspections, permit and license renewal, data management and reporting, and document management. EHS software can organize and streamline these tasks by sending automatic reminders with details to responsible parties. Tailored inspection checklists can be a helpful feature in ensuring facilities are maintaining high EHS standards. Document databases store important organization policies and procedures and make them accessible to the necessary personnel or in emergency situations.
- Audit Preparedness: The prospect of audits can be stressful for healthcare facilities. EHS software facilitates a constant state of audit readiness by maintaining organized and readily accessible data. Software can electronically store and manage critical documents like safety data sheets (SDS), training records, and incident reports. This ensures auditors have easy access to the information they need, streamlining the audit process and reducing stress for staff.
- Integration with Other Systems: Modern EHS software can integrate with other hospital information systems, such as facility management systems, security systems, and human resource software. This integrated approach eliminates the need for manual data entry across multiple systems, reducing the risk of errors and inconsistencies. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive view of the facility’s safety and compliance effectiveness.
- Centralized Communication Platform: EHS software can serve as a central communication platform for compliance-related issues. The software can be used to disseminate regulatory updates, share best practices, and facilitate communication between staff, departments, and compliance officers. This fosters a culture of compliance within the facility and empowers staff to actively participate in maintaining a safe and healthy environment.
Utilizing EHS software can help healthcare organizations stay updated on regulatory requirements while streamlining tasks and collaborating across job functions and departments ensuring employee focus can remain on patient care.
Promoting Sustainability
Sustainability is a growing concern in healthcare, with facilities striving to reduce their environmental impact. EHS software is a great tool for organizations to gain insights into their impact and develop measures and procedures for improvement.
- Waste Management: Healthcare facilities generate a significant amount of waste. EHS software can track and analyze waste generation in granular detail, including type, quantity, and source. Organizations can also gain insights on the different departments and locations waste streams are generated from. This empowers facilities to identify areas for reduction, such as implementing reusable alternatives where feasible. Additionally, EHS software can be used to develop and manage recycling programs, divert waste from landfills, and promote resource conservation.
- Energy Monitoring: Energy consumption is a major source of environmental impact and financial burden for healthcare facilities. Advanced EHS software can go beyond simply monitoring energy use by providing real-time data on energy consumption across different departments and equipment. This granular data allows facilities to identify areas for conservation. It allows organizations to make informed decisions to upgrade lighting and HVAC systems and install energy management systems that automate controls and optimize energy usage based on occupancy and weather conditions. Better lighting and temperature control not only is energy saving but can also be cost saving and contribute to positive health outcomes.
- Sustainable Procurement: EHS software can be leveraged to integrate sustainable procurement practices into the organization’s operations. The software can be used to develop and manage a preferred vendor list that prioritizes companies with sound environmental performance, that have set environmental targets or are recognized as industry leaders in sustainability. Additionally, it can be used to track the environmental impact of different products and materials used in the facility, such as the use of harmful cleaning agents, allowing for informed purchasing decisions.
- Water Conservation: Water use is another significant environmental concern for healthcare facilities. EHS software can track water consumption across different departments and facilities and identify areas for reduction. It can also be used to monitor leaks and other water inefficiencies, allowing for prompt repairs and maintenance. Additionally, the software can be used to promote water conservation practices among staff through educational campaigns and reminders.
- Environmental Impact Reporting: EHS software can generate reports on metrics like waste generation, energy consumption, and water usage. This data can be used to track progress towards sustainability goals, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate the facility’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Communication of data is a key component of decision making and detailed reports will help healthcare management understand the current status so they can make informed decisions to get to where they want to be.
Developing and carrying out a comprehensive sustainability strategy for a healthcare organization can be difficult and involves significant resources. Utilizing tools such as software can help translate the strategy from goals and plans to actions that positively impact the environment and have the potential to save costs.
The Last Word on EHS Software in Healthcare
In an increasingly complex regulatory and industry landscape, EHS software becomes a necessity for healthcare facilities. By fostering a proactive approach to safety, streamlining regulatory compliance, and promoting sustainable practices, EHS software empowers healthcare facilities to create a safe, healthy, and environmentally conscious environment for everyone. However, the benefits extend beyond just compliance and improved EHS metrics.
- Improved Patient Outcomes: A safe and healthy environment for staff translates to better care for patients. When staff have fewer safety hazards in their workplace and confident in the facility’s compliance, they can better deliver exceptional patient care.
- Enhanced Staff Morale: A culture of safety and a commitment to sustainability can boost staff morale and job satisfaction. When staff feel valued and protected, they are more likely to be engaged and productive.
- Reduced Costs: EHS software can help healthcare facilities save money through lower utility costs from conserved resources and reductions in compensation claims from reduced accidents and injuries.
- Improved Reputation: A strong commitment to safety and sustainability can enhance a healthcare facility’s reputation in the community. This can attract patients, staff, and investors who value these principles.
EHS software is a powerful tool that can improve healthcare facilities to be safer, more compliant, and sustainable organizations. By investing in EHS software, healthcare facilities can demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of their staff, patients, and the environment.