Miller, Adam

Objective The United Nations defines sustainability as meeting needs of the present without compromising future generations. While often equated to “saving the planet”, sustainability is a diverse topic. Healthcare generates >5% of CO 2 emissions worldwide, yet sustainability efforts in urology are limited. The North Central Section of the American Urological Association (NCSAUA) recently convened a Sustainability Task Force to address this topic. This study queried members on sustainability in urologic practice. Methods Following literature review on sustainability in surgery/urology, a 19-item anonymous REDCap survey was developed and distributed via email to NCSAUA members (N = 1607). The survey assessed current best practice, institutional/personal sustainability, and demographics. Responses were compiled and summarized using descriptive statistics. Results Survey response rate was 4.9% (79/1607). Respondents were most commonly from metropolitan areas (82%), male (71%), and in practice for 5–14 years (29%). Sustainability topics were prioritized as: (1) financial, (2) future workforce, (3) environmental. Over half (56%) reported no institutional sustainability programs or were unaware of them. Instrument (67%), computer (68%), and paper (65%) recycling were supported by a majority of respondents. However, only 28% and 29% of respondents reported current institutional use of instrument and computer recycling, respectively. Telemedicine was infrequent, with most urologists (58%) conducting 0-5% of visits virtually. Conclusions Current institutional and urologic practice emphasis on sustainability is low. Respondents ranked highest sustainability priorities as financial and future workforce. Efforts to address environmental sustainability were also supported, namely reduction of disposables and waste. The findings support the development of targeted programs to advance sustainability priorities widely.