Ramses Prado Mares lends a hand to sustainability efforts in perioperative care.
Ramses Prado Mares is a seasoned Performance Improvement Consultant (PIC) in long-term care at Providence Health Care (PHC). “In a nutshell, I provide support to clinical operations, corporate services and team initiatives directed at improving the safety and quality of care and client experience at PHC.” His role involves delving into the data, identifying areas for improvement, and leading initiatives aligned with PHC’s collective goals.
“During my bachelor’s degree, I learned the term socially responsible company. From that moment on, I was convinced that the concept should be one of the operating principles of any company or organization.”
In 2022, Ramses joined the Green+ Leaders program so that he could meaningfully contribute to PHC’s sustainability efforts. Through the program, he learned about the true impact of health care on the environment. “I felt the need to help my organization, and ultimately the system I am part of, to fight back on that matter,” he recalls.
Ramses’ care for the environment started early. ” Growing up with limited resources in a big family taught me the importance of using resources efficiently and fairly,” he says. This childhood lesson echoes in Ramses’ belief that our planet, with its limited resources, deserves our careful and fair use.
In that spirit, Ramses led the Glove Smart Quality Improvement Project at the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) in St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. The six-month initiative, which took place from July to December 2023, was aimed at reducing non-surgical glove use and the hospital’s waste intensity without compromising the quality of patient care. The approach was to educate staff about the appropriate use of non-surgical gloves through instructional posters in the unit and peer-to-peer real-time feedback. The project proved to be a resounding success, with a remarkable 53% reduction compared to the previous year.
The success of the initiative hinged on the active participation of practitioners in both the design and implementation phases.
We succeeded because we listened to those doing the daily work. They have the best ideas for changes that colleagues will embrace. As leaders, our job is to empower and guide them from ideas to action,” Ramses emphasizes.
Looking ahead, Ramses is strategically planning to expand the ‘Glove Smart Project’ across PHC, reflecting his enthusiasm for sharing his data-driven approach and innovative thinking across the health authority.
Ramses involvement with PHC’s Environmental Stewardship Team (ESTeam) and the Green+ Leaders program is a testament to his holistic approach to quality improvement: “To be part of this network, formed by like-minded people, has allowed me to know what is being done in other health authorities and unify our efforts to reduce the impact of the health care system on the environment.” Moreover, he envisions a system that takes accountability for its environmental impact while collaborating with First Nations.
For colleagues who share his passion for environmental sustainability, Ramses offers a tangible approach. “Explore the journey we’ve been on, reach out to Green+Leaders, and join the conversation in monthly ESTeam meetings,” he advises.
Ramses’ story is not just about reducing waste; it’s an invitation to be part of a collective effort to redefine the role of health care in cultivating Planetary Health.
