Philips, Vanderbilt Unite to Define Roadmap for Decarbonizing Radiology

Philips and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) began a collaboration aiming to reduce the health system’s carbon footprint while devising a blueprint to guide industry efforts.
 
The project will be involved with the radiology department, where efforts will focus on measuring and addressing energy consumption of VUMC’s diagnostic imaging devices including MR., CT, ultrasound, and X-ray. The two firms expect to publish their findings to promote exchange of knowledge and allow others in the industry to boost environmental strategies.
 
Philips and VUMC will collect a range of equipment lifecycle data, including radiology data and measurements of equipment energy consumption, analyze operational workflow efficiency, and ad interview VUMC staff/faculty to build computational models for running simulations.
 
The teams will then summarize piloted interventions to test reduction of the department’s carbon footprint.
 
“We consider climate care as healthcare. Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity, it’s also a responsibility. The future of radiology requires us to be cognizant, aware and proactive about addressing this issue which directly affects the communities we live in and the patients we treat,” Reed Omary, MD, MS, Carol D. and Henry P. Pendergrass Professor and Chair of Radiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told the press. “We have a collective responsibility to help mitigate climate change, which is why we’ve entered into this collaboration. Working together will allow us to leverage Philips’ general healthcare and specific radiology expertise—as well as their own success in achieving CO₂ net-zero operations—to make important reductions in our carbon footprint.”
 
“Philips and VUMC share a common vision—that systemically addressing climate change is going to take commitment and collaboration across the industry. Philips’ 2023 Future Health Index found that nearly half of U.S. healthcare leaders are planning to overcome challenges to implementing sustainability initiatives by sharing best practices and learnings from peers,” added Jeff DiLullo, chief region leader, Philips North America. “We are optimistic that results from this partnership will not only assist Vanderbilt in its effort to understand and address carbon emissions in its own radiology department, but serve as a model for others seeking to decarbonize their operations.”