Environmental Sustainability

The Healthcare Sustainability and Resilience Module is a framework of actions for health service organisations to integrate environmental sustainability and climate resilience into the safety and quality of care.

The Healthcare Sustainability and Resilience Module (the Module) is a framework of actions to support health service organisations address healthcare impacts on the environment and the climate risks affecting human health and equitable access to high-quality care.

This issue includes items on the Australian National Report from the OECD-led Patient-Reported Indicator Survey (PaRIS), clinical care standards, patient safety, artificial intelligence (AI), clinical deterioration, mental health, feedback and audit, sustainability and more.. Along with the latest from International Journal for Quality in Health Care, BMJ Quality & Safety, Health Policy and the USA’s AHRQ and National Academy of Medicine.

The Commission, in partnership with the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control and Australian medical colleges, has released an historic Joint Statement to signify a shared commitment to address the health impacts of climate change. In an Australian first, all specialist medical colleges and the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association have endorsed the Joint Statement.

Released 1 October 2024 

This issue includes items on the new National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards Guide for healthcare services, the new The Aged Care Infection Prevention and Control Guide, the revised Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard, medication safety, transitions of care, infection control, sustainability, value, maternity care, COVID-19, and more.

A public consultation on the Module was conducted between October 2022 and February 2023. This document outlines the public consultation process and summarises participation and the feedback received.

Findings from the consultation process were used to inform amendments to the Module and will support the development of implementation resources.

The Commission engaged the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) and Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI) to conduct a review of existing policies and literature, to better understand the potential safety and quality implications and solutions facing health service organisations related to climate change and the associated extreme weather events and changing patterns of disease.