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BackTable / OBGYN / Podcast / Episode #49
Women’s Health at Risk: Climate Change Realities
with Dr. Alexandra Melnyk and Dr. Jane van Dis
In this episode of BackTable OBGYN, host Dr. Amy Park joins Dr. Jane Van Dis and Dr. Alexandra Melnyk to discuss the impact of climate change on women’s health and the effect of healthcare-related activities on the environment.
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BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2024, March 19). Ep. 49 – Women’s Health at Risk: Climate Change Realities [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com
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Podcast Contributors
Dr. Alexandra Melnyk
Dr. Alexandra Melnyk is a urogyneologist with Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Dr. Jane van Dis
Dr. Jane van Dis is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gnecology at U of Rochester in New York.
Dr. Amy Park
Dr. Amy Park is the Section Head of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, and a co-host of the BackTable OBGYN Podcast.
Synopsis
The physicians highlight the importance of adopting sustainable practices in healthcare to minimize waste, reduce carbon emissions, and improve patient health outcomes. Topics discussed include the excessive use of single-use plastic in healthcare, the life cycle of medical instruments, the potential harm of pollutant exposure on reproductive health, and the environmental impact of disposable vs. reusable devices. The physicians also discuss the potential influence of sustainable practices on patient outcomes and institutional costs. Finally, they explore potential strategies for improving sustainability in healthcare, such as improving sterilization protocols and advocating for changes in manufacturing practices.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
05:19 - Current State of Climate Change
11:46 - Impact of Climate Change on Health and Reproductive Outcomes
20:55 - Effects of Plastics on Health and Use of Plastics in Medicine
30:17 - Healthcare’s Contribution to Climate Change
34:02 - Understanding the Importance of Sustainability in Healthcare
34:22 - The Intricacies of Supply Chain in Healthcare
35:07 - Life Cycle Assessment of Medical Devices
35:51 - Sterilization and the Importance of Reusable Devices
42:46 - The Impact of Waste in Operating Rooms
49:47 - The Need for Systemic Changes in Healthcare
54:57 - The Role of Leadership in Promoting Sustainability
58:46 - The Power of Small Changes in Surgery
Resources
OBGYN’s for a Sustainable Future Website:
www.obg4sf.org
ACOG’s Position Statement on Climate Change:
https://www.acog.org/clinical-information/policy-and-position-statements/position-statements/2021/addressing-climate-change
Transcript Preview
It's absolutely profound, the manners by which the climate crisis is impacting reproductive health. I'll start with heat. As you might guess, women who live in areas that are hotter, where, for instance, even a wet bulb temperature is higher, we saw this in data coming out of Pakistan, they're more likely to experience preterm births, low birth weight, and even stillbirths. Then heat also affects fertility rates as well. We know that heat affects both the female reproductive system and the male reproductive system.
Disclaimer: The Materials available on BackTable.com are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.
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