Environmental Performance Measurement in Hospitals: …
143
Fig. 2 Word cloud of the abstracts
tals’ (20), ‘energy’ (16), ‘performance’ (13), ‘framework’ (13) and ‘approach’ (11)
stood out, underlining the concerns on environmental performance in hospitals.
Figure 2 presents the word cloud of the abstracts.
The analysis of the content of the papers indicated that the discussion on new
approaches that address environmental performance in hospitals is present. Growing
concerns on how health professionals deal and respond to the demands on mitigating
the impact of hospital operations and improving practice/design were found to be
relevant.
5 Conclusion
The bibliometric review on ‘hospital environmental performance measurement’ indicated the scarcity of studies over the last 30 years, that is, since the publication of
the Brundtland Report (1987). A set of 10 papers were regarded as relevant to the
topic. The majority of studies were placed in high-income countries; three of the
papers showed that the concerns on the subject have grown in the case of developing
countries. Nonetheless, the content analysis suggested that there is a knowledge gap
related to frameworks that directly deal with the measurement of hospital environmental performance. Considering the topic has become paramount and the impact
of hospital operations on the environment, this seems to be a crucial research opportunity. Only by proposing and testing meaningful frameworks, it will be possible
to achieve a sustainable present and future for hospitals, especially in developing
countries.
143
Fig. 2 Word cloud of the abstracts
tals’ (20), ‘energy’ (16), ‘performance’ (13), ‘framework’ (13) and ‘approach’ (11)
stood out, underlining the concerns on environmental performance in hospitals.
Figure 2 presents the word cloud of the abstracts.
The analysis of the content of the papers indicated that the discussion on new
approaches that address environmental performance in hospitals is present. Growing
concerns on how health professionals deal and respond to the demands on mitigating
the impact of hospital operations and improving practice/design were found to be
relevant.
5 Conclusion
The bibliometric review on ‘hospital environmental performance measurement’ indicated the scarcity of studies over the last 30 years, that is, since the publication of
the Brundtland Report (1987). A set of 10 papers were regarded as relevant to the
topic. The majority of studies were placed in high-income countries; three of the
papers showed that the concerns on the subject have grown in the case of developing
countries. Nonetheless, the content analysis suggested that there is a knowledge gap
related to frameworks that directly deal with the measurement of hospital environmental performance. Considering the topic has become paramount and the impact
of hospital operations on the environment, this seems to be a crucial research opportunity. Only by proposing and testing meaningful frameworks, it will be possible
to achieve a sustainable present and future for hospitals, especially in developing
countries.