Design Tools for a Sustainable Healthcare: Empowering Medical Professionals With Multifunctional Consumables App

Cito, Gabriele Maria (2024) Design Tools for a Sustainable Healthcare: Empowering Medical Professionals With Multifunctional Consumables App. In: P/References of Design. Cumulus conference proceedings series, 1 . Cumulus Association, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, Budapest, pp. 2219-2228. ISBN 978-952-7549-03-5

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Abstract

Climate change, linked to greenhouse gas emissions, has been identified as the primary challenge to public health in the 21st century. The medical device supply chain contributes to over 70% of the healthcare sector's emissions, encompassing the production, transportation, and disposal of items such as drugs, hospital equipment, instruments, and medical devices. The doctoral research focuses on consumables management within the Department of Neonatology of Umberto I Polyclinic of Rome, aiming to support medical personnel and administrative staff in optimizing the procurement, utilization, and disposal of medical consumables. Through a collaborative design process involving key stakeholders, the objective is to create an innovative mobile application that improves the efficiency of managing disposable medical consumables associated with electromedical equipment and medical procedures. This app is anticipated to deliver several benefits, including enhanced operational efficiency, real-time tracking of consumables, and comprehensive data collection for investigating circular design strategies from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. Relieving users' cognitive efforts, the application promotes sustainable practices throughout the lifecycle of disposable medical consumables, spanning procurement, usage, and disposal. This, in turn, contributes significantly to broader sustainability initiatives. In the long run, implementing strategies focusing on sustainable product use holds the potential to revolutionize how we approach medical consumables. By emphasizing redesign, reuse, recovery, and recycling, these strategies can improve resource availability, minimize waste, and foster systemic sustainability within the healthcare sector.

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