Sustainable Healthcare: A path to sustainability
Traditional and modern performance measurements are combined to form the basis of a framework that supports criteria for levels in reaching sustainable healthcare and clarifies how healthcare facilities might operationalise the ‘sustainable healthcare’ concept.
Abstract
Sustainable healthcare is becoming an increasingly prominent issue as the aspects and impacts of healthcare activities are acknowledged and discovered. However, ‘sustainable healthcare’ is a debatable concept, without consensus and used in a variety of ways by many organizations. This research project lays a foundation for working consistently with the concept. Traditional and modern performance measurements are combined to form the basis of a framework that supports criteria for levels in reaching sustainable healthcare. The concept of stakeholder theory and engagement further supports the formation of the framework with levels of stakeholder involvement and thus quality of action. Literature reviews and leaders from the sustainable healthcare field provided information that contributed to the organization of sustainability levels and hierarchy of criteria. Analysis and careful consideration of information provided by these sources aided in the creation of a guideline for a path to ‘sustainable healthcare’ and clarifies how healthcare facilities might operationalise the ‘sustainable healthcare’ concept.