Improving anesthesia emissions at Seattle Children’s, nationwide

Editor's Note

The sustainability team at Seattle Children's Hospital has reduced anesthesia-related emissions by 87%, a Becker's Hospital Review October 26 webinar reported.

According to the webinar presenters, the team at Seattle Children's first gathered electronic medical record (EHR) data from their anesthesia gas machines, then implemented steps to limit the emissions such as limiting gas flow, anesthesia selection, and leak control, to significantly reduce emissions with no harm to patients. 

These improvements have saved the hospital more than $175,000 on annual anesthesia costs and spurred a national quality improvement project to reduce related greenhouse gas emissions by 50%. Seattle Children’s has committed to being net zero by 2025.