Healthcare System Activates Employees to Support Waste Management Efforts

Use Case

Company leaders knew two things would be key to their success: data and employee engagement. First, they needed visibility into the data of how their current waste disposal systems and processes operated to pinpoint opportunities for improvement. They also knew that intentional stakeholder engagement from department managers would be critical to the adoption of new procedures that were sure to roll out as the process progressed. The healthcare system partnered with Arcadia to craft and implement a strategy and roadmap to improve waste management practices across their portfolio of hospitals, medical office buildings, and administrative offices.

Challenge

Arcadia worked with the healthcare system’s regional management to ensure all sites were aware of the high-priority waste management initiative. To engage all staff, each site went through a rigorous plan to guarantee program adoption.

With over 100 sites, it became apparent that each site had its own culture, workflow, cadence, and floor plan. By conducting a 2-week, on-site engagement with the site’s staff, Arcadia  better understood how to address regional goals while accommodating local needs.

Arcadia's four-step employee engagement approach ensured every site was set up for lasting success:

• Onboard: Align with site leadership on logistical and administrative aspects prior to consulting on site.
• Engage All Staff: Partner with department leaders and staff to build relationships, understand workflow and pain points.
• Optimize Waste Stations: Create efficient waste stations with standardized signage.
• Provide Trainings: Hold mandatory 15-minute interactive trainings for all staff to gain insights about the waste disposal process.

Solution

To identify opportunities for process improvement, Arcadia  conducted several thorough walkthroughs, shadowed the environmental services (EVS) team and audited trash bins on each floor. These activities provided data that enabled Arcadia  to locate and remove redundant trash bins, optimize EVS workflow and highlight which departments had the greatest opportunities for improvement. The data that was collected formed a baseline, which became the foundation for growth and maintenance of the program.

Even armed with the data, encouraging staff to make slight adjustments in their workflow can be a challenge. But by creating open dialogue and acknowledging staff needs, Arcadia was able to garner excitement and momentum across the sites. Building off this momentum, employees were emboldened to become waste advocates and helped Arcadia create central waste stations which streamlined the waste management system, reduced the number of plastic liners and, as an added benefit, improved mobility. Eager to solidify this program, the site’s staff participated in interactive training that provided insights and solutions around waste and how to maintain the program.

Benefits

By concentrating on training and open communication, Arcadia created an integrated and tailored approach that influenced staff to be more accountable for owning and expanding the program at their site. Within 12 months, Arcadia enabled these transformations:

• 100% of managers trained at over 100 sites
• 600+ pieces of signage incorporated at waste stations
• 10,000+ trash bins removed to decrease landfill waste

Engaging stakeholders is no easy task, but it creates lasting value that can go deeper and broader into an organization. The healthcare system’s regional management saw the success of the program and plan a rapid expansion throughout additional sites in the future.