What This Study Is About
The purpose of this study is to better understand the outcomes and benefits of green hospitals to answer the question: do the monetary investments in sustainable healthcare facilities yield the intended operational, environmental and human-centered benefits?
The study will revisit hospital projects from the earlier 2013 study, “Demystifying First-Cost Green Building Premiums in Health Care” and a select group of projects completed after that study from which data is available. The study will focus on key sustainability performance metrics related to both building and operational performance including energy consumption, carbon emissions and water use, staff recruitment and retention. The goal is to validate assumptions that sustainable healthcare facilities’ deliver operational, environmental and human-centered benefits.
For participating hospitals the study requires the provision of anonymized data in addition to a brief survey and follow up interviews of select staff when possible. The overall the time commitment of any staff member for completing the survey and participating in an optional follow-up interview is anticipated to be an hour or less. Additional details are included below.
Reflecting the scope and methodology used in this evaluation, it is understood to be exempt from IRB review.
Schedule
Phase 1 // Develop Research Methodology
Time Frame: June 1 - September 1, 2024
Phase 2 // Data Collection & Interviews
Time Frame: September 1 - December 1, 2024
Phase 3 // Analysis
Time Frame: December 1 - February 1, 2025
Phase 4 // Report
Time Frame: February 1 - April 1, 2025
What We Will Ask You To Do
The collection of data and feedback from participating hospitals is scheduled for September 1 - November 1, 2024.
The study methodology includes the analysis of quantitative data, for example Staff Retention Rates and Annual Energy Consumption, in addition to qualitative feedback and insights provided via surveys and follow up interviews.
Qualitative Feedback
The process includes surveys and select follow up interviews of hospital staff to collect first-hand feedback for the study. All responses and resulting analysis will remain anonymous. Overall the time commitment of any staff member including survey and follow-up interview is anticipated to be an hour or less.
Distinct survey and interview tools will be provided for each of the following categories of staff to ensure a broad range of perspectives is shared.
Clinical Staff
Non-Clinical Support Staff
Facilities Staff
Quantitative Data
We will provide the web-based tools, forms and resources needed for hospitals to upload the data and metrics noted below.
Building Performance
Energy Consumption
Carbon Emissions
Water Consumption
Waste Generation
Operational Performance
Employee Engagement // Staff Satisfaction
Staff Absenteeism
Staff Retention // Employee turnover rate
Staff Recruitment
Patient Satisfaction
Privacy/Confidentiality/Data Security
We will protect all participating hospitals and staff's privacy and confidentiality; all analysis will be aggregated; identifying information from individual hospitals will be kept separate from research data and the two will not be connected.