Effects of Health Care on the Environment

Effects of Health Care on the Environment
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Effects of Health Care on the Environment
Introduction
Health care has a vast impact on our environment. These range from medical waste disposal and facility emissions to the chemicals and materials used in medical products and treatments. In addition, the healthcare industry also contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions. These healthcare practices may lead to high pollution. This essay will discuss some of the impacts of health care on the environment and how we can reduce our environmental footprint.
The groups of people that health care effects impacts
Furthermore, healthcare practices significantly impact people and their environment (Lelieveld et al., 2019). These people affected by healthcare practices include patients, healthcare workers, and surrounding communities. Healthcare practices and their impacts on various groups of people are discussed below.
Patients
Healthcare practices directly impact patients as they simply require access to eminence healthcare amenities. Emissions from healthcare facilities cause air pollution, which may make patients vulnerable to respiratory-related complications. Additionally, hazardous waste improperly disposed of may cause environmental and water pollution, which may facilitate the spread of illnesses.
Health Care Workers
Healthcare practices significantly impact healthcare professionals
(Pinzone et al., 2019). Healthcare procedures are reflected in the caliber of care that healthcare professionals offer. Poor healthcare practices can result in insufficient funding, restricted access to necessary medical treatment, and undertrained healthcare personnel.
Surrounding Community
Healthcare practices significantly impact local communities. They may impact a community's capacity for economic growth, its ability to receive healthcare, and its general standard of living. For example, when healthcare practitioners are accessible to address a range of medical ailments, it can help lessen the pressure on local hospitals and other healthcare institutions.