Students from our Thesis Labs share their experiences in Lablogs. What did they discover so far in their Lab? This time Tamar van Doorn, master’s student in both Healthcare management at the Erasmus University Rotterdam & Medicine at Leiden University (LUMC), and participant of the Lab 'Sustainable Healthcare'. “I have seen many opportunities to make ambulance care more environmentally friendly.” Read Tamar's Lablog.
Name: Tamar van Doorn
Age: 23 years old
Lab: Sustainable Healthcare Lab
Study: Healthcare management at the Erasmus University Rotterdam & Medicine at Leiden University (LUMC)
Lifegoal: becoming a sustainable-oriented doctor
“Two weeks ago, we visited the OR center in the LUMC, to assess its sustainability efforts. Prof. Dr. Frank Willem Jansen gave a tour and told us about the sustainable efforts taken by the LUMC and the challenges they are still facing. The sustainable 'green OR' left a great impression on the group. However, it became apparent that more measures could be implemented to enhance sustainability. Nonetheless, the green OR was an inspiring glimpse into the potential for further environmental initiatives within healthcare settings.
How can life saving activities combine with sustainability?"
Sustainable Ambulance Care
My thesis is about enhancing sustainability in ambulance care, especially at the RAVHM in Leiden. At the beginning of my research, it became clear that sustainability efforts at the RAVHM are still in their infancy. Since I have a medical background, I got the chance to join ambulance rides to observe sustainable behavior in action. These firsthand experiences have underscored the potential for improvement and the numerous opportunities available to make ambulance care more environmentally friendly.
At this moment, I am in the middle of my interviews which will give me a deeper understanding of the complexities the RAVHM faces in implementing sustainable initiatives. The most important principles of their work are action-based and lifesaving. So, the question arises: how can these essential aspects be combined with sustainability?
This is a question that my interviewees and I have discussed in detail. But I also had the opportunity to discuss it further with the other students of the Sustainable Healthcare Thesis Lab, consisting of students the universities of Delft, Leiden, and Rotterdam. Interacting with participants from diverse disciplines has provided me with valuable insights and perspectives that I would otherwise not have encountered.
New ways
In the Lab program, we all focus on different aspects of sustainable healthcare, but we can already see overarching difficulties and opportunities. Furthermore, I have learned new approaches to problem-solving which helped me in doing my research on sustainability in ambulance care. Engaging in the Sustainable Thesis Lab has offered me a platform to address sustainable challenges by applying my academic expertise in medicine and management. I'm enthusiastic about continuing my research and exploring ways to improve sustainability in ambulance care. Additionally, I am eager to deepen my involvement with RAVHM to grasp the wider implications of transitioning towards sustainable ambulance care, ‘To Stay Green at the Scene’. Looking ahead, I'm genuinely excited about the upcoming months of research and field trips!