The Value Proposition: What OEM Physicians Bring to Healthcare Sustainability

Occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) clinicians are distinctly qualified to lead efforts toward achieving sustainable healthcare systems. With training and experience in exposure prevention, hazard mitigation, and systems-based thinking, OEM physicians bring knowledge and skills in developing and executing sustainability initiatives in complex healthcare environments. This article explores how core OEM frameworks and tools can be used to reduce healthcare-related emissions, waste, and resource consumption while also developing strategies to address the effects of climate change on health. OEM specialists can link clinical care and operational strategy, liaising with multidisciplinary stakeholders, and driving culture change related to sustainability. As the healthcare sector faces mounting pressure to reduce its environmental footprint while improving quality and cost-effectiveness, OEM physicians offer expertise to support this evolution.