A Better Sight for the Environment and Your Budget! Integrated Product Policy: Environmental Product Information for Diagnostic Imaging Devices

Transcription

1 A Better Sight for the Environment and Your Budget! Integrated Product Policy: Environmental Product Information for Diagnostic Imaging Devices INTEGRATED PRODUCT POLICY Diagnostic Imaging Devices

2 Environmental Product Information Profit for all Parties The overall life cycle of a product, from manufacture through length of service to final disposal or recycling, is relevant to its environmental qualities. Designing environmentally friendly products in this overall sense is the target of Integrated Product Policy (IPP). Users and manufacturers profit from the environmental optimisation of a product, since they can both benefit from savings in energy and raw materials on a large scale. IPP in creases the quality of products and processes and encourages innovation. IPP is an important component of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg s commitment to climate and resource protection. To this end, the Hamburg Environment Partnership an alliance between the Hamburg Senate and businesses has initiated the IPP project Environmental Product Information for Diagnostic Imaging Devices. Hospitals, medical practices, device manufacturers and organisations have together developed a list of criteria for comprehensive and transparent environmental information within the framework of this project. Buying a magnetic resonance or computer tomography device, an X-ray or ultrasound machine is an important investment decision for hospitals and practices. This new information standard puts their decisions on a reliable foundation. They will have all relevant environmental and economic information at a glance, and can reliably calculate the environmental effects and follow-up costs of their investment. The manufacturers can provide environmental product information that is easier to understand, and thus cultivate the trust of their customers. They can also gain significant inspiration for product innovation. With this brochure and the enclosed checklist, we want to show you the positive effects of environmental product information. We would like you as a buyer to ask for environmental information from your suppliers and as a manufacturer to provide this information in order to profit from the positive marketing effects. By doing this you can make an important contribution - to the efficient use of energy and valuable resources, and for climate and environmental protection. Anja Hajduk Senator for Urban Development and Environment Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg

3 Responsibility for People and the Environment Clinics and practices have a special responsibility for the effects of their actions on people and the environment. This is also reflected in the purchase of medical devices. With a good conscience Public pressure on companies to act environmentally is growing. This is especially true for the health industry since, for health, a sound environment is crucial. If hospitals and medical practices operate environmentally, they can, amongst other things improve their public image with a good conscience. A decisive aspect of environ mental sustainability is purchasing processes, which take environmental impact into consideration to the greatest extent possible. This is just as true for the purchase of diagnostic imaging devices as for any other products and services. Better climate protection through greater clarity Diagnostic imaging devices produce large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) as a result of their energy consump tion. Energy-efficient devices can greatly reduce CO 2 emissions; with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computer tomography (CT), this amounts to several tonnes per year. Since a product continues to have an effect on the environment for its entire life cycle, details of energy consumption for the manufacture, operation and dis posal should, as a rule, be available in standardised product information. If environmental effects are to be seriously considered, clearer information about the ultimate disposal of the device and recycling of its materials is just as important. In particular, large clinics like ours carry a special responsibility for the environment and people, they should serve as good examples. The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf represents not only innovative medicine, but also forward-looking and sustainable economic activity. Therefore we put great emphasis in our pur chasing processes on environmentally and economically sensible investments. Comparative product information plays a decisive role in this. Only with this can we see beforehand the environmental consequences of an investment decision. Professor Dr. Jörg F. Debatin, Medical Director, CEO, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) Protection for patients and employees The protection of users and patients has the highest priority. This means, among other things, measures to minimise exposure to X-ray radiation or electromagnetic fields. Information on this is an integral part of the standardised environmental data. Just as important is the information showing to what extent exposure of personnel to toxic substances is necessary. Therefore a hazardous materials list is also a part of the standard for clear environmental declarations. Another aspect is the noise level which a system reaches during use. The maximum noise exposure is rightfully subject to labour protection laws, since too much noise has a negative effect on the health of those who are exposed to it for long periods. The impacts on people and the environment should be easy to compare without great research efforts. Responsible buyers can make opti mal decisions for greater environmental, workplace and patient protection if they take into account the aspects listed in the enclosed checklist for their purchase.

4 Clinics and Practices: Costs under Control Energy consumption, parts that wear out, personnel costs or consumable supplies: the operation of X-ray and ultrasound devices, CT and MRI carries extensive costs. Standardised environmental product information highlights these even at the purchasing stage, and therefore enables a more exact assessment of the follow-up costs. Energy as a cost-driver In an environment of rising prices for electricity, heating and cooling energy, energy costs have to be calculable even before the purchase of a device. The differences here can be very large, as the comparison between two MRIs shows in another section of this brochure: both devices give the same performance - however, the more energy-efficient device requires about 15% less electricity. After ten years, the difference in the electricity costs of both devices is about 30,000 euros or more, based on current prices. Similar ratios can also be shown for CTs, x-ray and ultrasound devices. The energy consumption of these devices is also affected by the ability to completely shut them off. Also, all factors in connection with waste heat and necessary cooling are relevant to energy use. The more unused heat a device gives off and the lower the allowable operating temperature range is, the higher the cooling cost. With MRIs, these consequential costs can be significantly reduced by using a heat exchanger for waste heat recovery. If the heat given off can be used for warm water or space heating, this leads to noticeably lower operating costs. As a medium-sized radiological practice, we have to work in a cost-conscious way. For new investments we therefore pay very close attention to the consequential costs of devices for energy, resources and expendable parts. For devices with the same performance, these costs are of the utmost significance. With standardised environmental product information, we can now save time comparing these criteria. That has a positive effect on our overhead. Axel Grundmann, Commercial Director Conradia Radiological Practice Energy expenditure constitutes a considerable cost over the total service life of all imaging devices, which must be taken into consideration for all new acquisitions. A realistic assessment is only possible if comparative product information from various manufacturers is available. Wear and consumption Parts with a limited service life, such as X-ray tubes, or coolants, such as helium, have to be constantly renewed or replaced over the service life of the device. Information on the wear of expensive components and consumables is therefore essential for calculating the consequential costs of their operation, and should be included in the sales information of all vendors as standard. Minimum research efforts Work schedules are tight. With standardised information, all relevant information is available to buyers at a glance. If comparative data is available, the need for individual requests to manufacturers as well as the duration of internal decision-making processes, are reduced.

5 Synergies and Product Innovation by Manufacturers Environmental product information is not only useful to buyers and operators, but also to the manufacturers of imaging devices. Greater market transparency, more trust by the customers and synergies in sales and marketing are important arguments for this. Better positioned The market success of manufacturers and suppliers of diagnostic imaging devices depend to a great extent on how strongly trust and customer loyalty have been developed. An important aspect for a solid basis of trust between manufacturers and customers is the greatest possible clarity in product information. Due to their long service life, this is especially true of diagnostic imaging devices. Through the provision of standardised environmental information, manufacturers can position themselves far better in the market and successfully strengthen the marketing of their devices. Better prepared: sales and marketing synergies From the customer perspective, the importance of environ mental considerations and operational costs are steadily growing. Against this background, queries to sales and marketing staff are continuously on the increase. The processing of individual queries is timeconsuming and can potentially create a large organisational effort. If environmental product infor mation is already on offer in standardised form, many questions are already answered. This saves great amounts of effort and operational hours in sales and marketing. Standardised information can therefore develop into a real competitive advantage. The more closely we understand the wishes of the customer, the better we can respond to these, as early as in the planning and development stages of products. The environmental product information that has been developed in this project is also a result of the demands of our customers. Thus they give us important concepts for future product innovations. If all the competitors in our industry provided standard environmental infor mation, then not only would the ease of comparison of the devices be increased, but also the motivation to develop even more environmentally improved products. Dr. Freimut Schröder, Siemens AG Healthcare Sector, Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety, Product Testing Lab With vision: Product development As a result of close cooperation between manufacturers and operators, standardised environmental information gives important reference points for buyers` expectations of the diagnostic devices. Organisations that want to increase their market potential use this information in product development and focus on this even during the design phase. Product innovations which are also innovative from an environmental perspective have, in the long run, improved market opportunities, and demonstrate that a manufacturer takes its environmental respon sibilities seriously.

6 Work it out for yourself! This example calculation illustrates the potential energy savings that will become apparent through comparative environmental information. It relates only to the energy consumption of these two comparable Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanners (MRIs): Comparative energy consumption analysis MRI A Manufacturer s data on energy consumption: Full-power consumption 30 kw, idle mode consumption 20 kw Full-power operation: 1, hr x 30 kw = 49,725 kwh = 30, kg/co 2 49,725 kwh x M 0.15 = M 7, M/year Idle mode: 4, hr x 20 kw = 89,250 kwh = 55, kg/co 2 89,250 kwh x M 0.15 = M 13, M/year Total cost: O 20,846.25/year MRI B Manufacturer s data on energy consumption: Full-power consumption 25 kw, idle mode consumption 17 kw Full-power operation: 1, hr x 25 kw = 41,437.5 kwh = 25, kg/co 2 41,437.5 kwh x x M 0.15 = M 6, M/year Idle mode: 4, hr x 17 kw = 75,862.5 kwh = 47, kg/co 2 75,862.5 kwh x M 0.15 = M 11, M/year Total cost: O 17,594.99/year Base assumptions: average examination duration/patient 45 min. (15 min. preparation, 30 min. examination): 13 examinations/day, estimated electricity price 15 cents/kwh, 255 working days/year 13 examinations/day x 0.5 hr x 255 days = 1, hr/year full-power operation 13 preparations/day x 0.25 hr x 255 days = hr/year idle mode time = hr/day x 255 days = 3, hr/year Total idle mode time = 4, hr/year Advantages for cost- and environmentally-conscious purchasers Energy costs are not the only factors affecting the often high consequential costs of diagnostic imaging devices. The environmental product information covers a wide range of possible causes of increased costs and other criteria relevant to operation: Information regarding heat output and the possibilities of waste heat recovery Information on noise levels Details on energy consumption Details on device cleaning and size of the surface area to be disinfected Mwh kw db(a) cm 2 Details on device cleaning and size of the surface area to be disinfected Details on device cleaning and size of the surface area to be disinfected % Details on device cleaning and size of the surface area to be disinfected Measures and techniques regarding the minimisation of radiation exposure

7 The Project: intensive exchange at a high level Using expertise from the most diverse perspectives, with various requirements and a clear target: the development of standard product information for diagnostic imaging devices presented the organisers and participants of the project with numerous challenges and finally led to an optimal result. The challenge For the new acquisition of medical technology devices, along with medical requirements the purchase price is critical. High operational costs and waste disposal are therefore often overlooked. One reason for this is that up until now, no standardised information on these criteria has been available. It has to be painstakingly compiled by purchasers. Aim and results The stated aim of this project was to redress this lack of information. Through the development of a clearly arranged data sheet, which is included in this brochure as a checklist and lists all relevant environmental and economic criteria, clinics and practices can now appraise diagnostic imaging devices from various manufacturers using a uniform standard. The approach Using extensive analyses within the participating hospitals, and numerous seminars and workshops by project participants in various areas such as radiation, energy, waste disposal, noise or disinfection, the participants intensively discussed all relevant topics throughout the duration of the project. During the course of the project, it was found that the various participants` demands for environmental product information were closer than originally assumed. The extensive exchange of knowledge and experience led to the definition of distinct parameters which meet the conceptions of the operators and purchasers as well as those of the manufacturer. The project partners The integration of representatives who are players in manufacturing, purchasing and operating of diagnostic imaging devices was decisive for the success of this project. Notable manufacturers, clinics, practices and organisations were included. Organisations Hospital operators Medical technology industry Knowledge Exchange Hospitals and practices Medical technology Purchasing Care Hygiene Radiology Radiation protection Environmental protection Occupational safety Manufacturers Product design Technical safety System engineering Quality control Environmental protection Initiators / Organisers Project management Workshop facilitation Coordination

8 A Better Sight for the Environment and your Budget! Integrated Product Policy: Environmental Product Information for Diagnostic Imaging Devices You can learn more about the IPP project Environmental Product Information for Diagnostic Imaging Devices on the Internet at Publisher Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Ministry for Urban Development and the Environment Stadthausbrücke 8 D Hamburg Germany V.i.S.d.P. (person responsible according to the German Press Law): Kristina von Bülow Editorial Content: eggert+stiewe Text: Ferdinand Eggert (eggert+stiewe), Carolin Friedrich (Stakeholder Reporting GmbH) Status as of: September INTEGRATED PRODUCT POLICY Diagnostic Imaging Devices The Project Environmental Product Information for Diagnostic Imaging Devices Contact: Antje Knaack Tel.: antje.knaack@bsu.hamburg.de This brochure is published in the context of public relations by the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. It may not be used by political parties, canvassers or election workers for the purpose of canvassing during an election campaign. This applies to European, Parliamentary (Bundestag), State Parliamentary (Landtag) and local elections. Incorrect use is in particular distribution at election ralliesor parties information stands, as well as by direct mail, publishing, affixing or posting with party political information or advertising material. Passing it on to third parties for the purpose of canvassing is equally prohibited. Regardless of when, by which means and in what number this brochure has reached the recipient, it may not be used in a way that could be understood as the state government s taking of sides in favour of particular political groups, even when there is no connection with an upcoming election. The parties are, however, allowed to use this brochure to instruct their own members. Conceptand realisation: eggert+stiewe. Design: klutegrafikdesign. Photos: Philips, Siemens, istockphoto. Title page: Original material. Pages 6/7: Stakeholder Reporting GmbH.