Reducing Hand Surgery’s Impact on the Planet by Implementing Initiatives that Decrease Disposable Waste: A multiphase project to safely minimize the disposable supplies for small, common procedures that are completed in the operating room.

Dr. Fox and her team are decreasing disposable waste by implementing “Lean and Green” Initiatives that reduce waste to landfill. The team has successfully minimized the disposable supplies included in kit components for hand surgery patients

A grassroots effort led by Dr. Paige Fox spearheaded a practice change within the OR to create a powerful example of waste reduction, which can be replicated throughout the healthcare industry worldwide. By using an evidence-based approach to quality improvement, Dr. Fox and team implemented changes to the draping protocols of minor hand surgeries. The team demonstrated that minimalist practices are safe in ORs, and they simplified the contents of surgical packs for common minor hand procedures by eliminating what was not necessary. As an example, five plastic basins were eliminated from the supply kit for a single hand surgery that is performed 500 times per year).

The project has significantly reduced plastic waste in the OR by avoiding the unnecessary sourcing of 2500 plastic bins, avoiding plastic use and reducing waste sent to landfill. The decrease in patient draping and simplification of the surgical pack has produced an estimated savings of $50,000 per year.

Notably, Dr. Fox’s project can be expanded to other procedures to help decrease the impact of the OR on the environment and has inspired multiple sustainability research and quality projects inside of Stanford Medicine since its inception.

Ruth Tevlin, MB BAO BCh MRCSI MD
Affiliate, Dean’s Office Operations – Dean Other
Resident in Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Advisor to the Resident Safety Council

Ryan-Upson Scholar in Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine