Clinical laboratories at Providence Health Care transform through innovation, collaboration, and environmental stewardship.
At Providence Health Care’s (Providence) St. Paul’s Hospital and Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, clinical laboratories operate around the clock, processing thousands of patient specimens every day. These essential services, however, come with an environmental cost—higher water and energy use, and single-use waste. Recognizing this, Dr. Angela Fung, Clinical Chemist, led a transformative initiative to embed sustainability into routine lab operations while improving quality of care.
The three year project, “Establishing Sustainable Quality Improvement in the Clinical Laboratory,” reimagined the total testing process—pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical—through a systems-level lens. By applying the five Rs of waste management (reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink, and research), selecting eco-friendly materials and analyzers, and digitalizing previously manual workflows, the team achieved remarkable environmental and operational gains.
PHC Laboratory – Chemistry Division: Dr. Andre Mattman, Joanne Vlahovic, Mark Ularte, Christina Tra, Judi London, Laura Burns, Sheri Young, Peter McLellan, and Dr. Angela Fung.
Not pictured: Allyse Hummelman, Catherine Wang, and Gurjit Bubra.
PHSA Laboratory Information Solution (Not pictured): Dennis Penson and Jeffrey Siu.
A Collaborative, Systems-Level Approach
Unlike traditional green lab efforts that focus on equipment upgrades or recycling, this initiative integrated sustainability directly into clinical workflows. Collaborating with IT specialists, vendors, and regional partners at PHSA Laboratory Information Solutions, the Providence laboratory team implemented digital solutions that reduced paper waste, improved data integrity, and enhanced scalability across labs.
Results
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Updating the Laboratory Information System reduced monthly specimen container usage by 40%.
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Switching to high-efficiency analyzers cut solid waste per test result by up to 78%.
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Post-analytical changes reduced freezer archive storage volume by 67%.
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Digitalizing method validation and external proficiency testing saved an estimated 486 hours of manual transcription annually.
Empowering Staff and Enhancing Patient Care
Staff engagement was central to the project’s success. Targeted training fostered a culture of sustainability and innovation, leading to staff-led initiatives like waste audits and paper reduction efforts. These changes not only improved morale but also enhanced patient safety—reducing specimen handling errors and improving diagnostic accuracy through automated data transmission.
Scaling Impact Across the Region
The project’s digital infrastructure, shared among Lower Mainland health organizations, supports broader adoption. Vancouver Coastal Health expanded the model, adding analyzers and digital workflows in its Haematology division, with plans to expand to its Chemistry division and other laboratories as well. This scalability reflects a shift from isolated green practices to a coordinated, sustainable model of laboratory medicine.
Looking Ahead
Now in its expansion phase, the initiative continues to grow, demonstrating how targeted interventions can drive meaningful change. By aligning with health system values of sustainability, efficiency, and quality, this project sets a precedent for environmentally responsible innovation in clinical laboratories.
