Decommissioning Nitrous Oxide at Kingston Health Sciences Centre: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas, and unnecessary losses from centralized pipeline systems can have a significant environmental impact. This practical case study explores how Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) identified, quantified, and eliminated large-scale nitrous oxide waste.

In this webinar, the KHSC team will outline the quality improvement process used to investigate the problem, engage stakeholders, navigate operational and infrastructure challenges, and ultimately decommission the nitrous oxide pipelines at both Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital in September 2025.

Attendees will learn how successive PDSA cycles, multidisciplinary collaboration, and workflow redesign supported the transition from a centralized nitrous oxide delivery system to point-of-care E-cylinder use, while maintaining clinical access when needed. The team will also share key lessons learned, practical implementation considerations, and balancing measures that can support similar sustainability initiatives at other Canadian hospitals.