Curricular Unit:Code:
Environmental Management in Healthcare Facilities823GAUS
Year:Level:Course:Credits:
3UndergraduateEnvironmental Engineering5 ects
Learning Period:Language of Instruction:Total Hours:
Portuguese/English65
Learning Outcomes of the Curricular Unit:
The aim of this course consists in enabling students to develop expertise skills in the field of Environmental Management in Health Care Facilities, namely regarding the management of hospital waste, indoor air quality, energy efficiency of places/processes, gaseous emissions and waste water, among other relevant issues.
Students are expected to develop/consolidate skills in order to be responsible for and/or actively contribute to assure the quality of environmental management in healthcare facilities.
Syllabus:
Environmental Management in Healthcare facilities: planing (identification of environmental aspects, compilation and interpretation of the legal requirements), and operacionalization (identification of good practices and monotoring indicators). Case Studies.
Demonstration of the Syllabus Coherence with the Curricular Unit's Objectives:
1. Introduction and theme framework: the aim of this item is to frame the theme of this curricular unit: what is environmental management in healthcare facilities and what are the motivations for its implementation.
2. Planning in Environmental Management in Healthcare Facilities: this item focus the main environmental aspects associated with environmental management in this sector, as well as the applicable legal requirements.
3. Operationalization of Environmental Management in Healthcare Facilities: the aim of this item is to study the relevant operations in environmental management in this sector, giving particular relevance to good operational practices. Monitoring and measurement practices will also be focused, regarding significant environmental aspects.
4. Case studies: this item was introduced in this syllabus to promote students’ contact with real problems regarding environmental management in healthcare facilities.
Teaching Methodologies (Including Evaluation):
The teaching methodologies are mainly expositive, interrogative and demonstrative, both during classes and tutorial orientation sessions. Case-studies are frequently used, in order to allow the interpretation and correct application of theoretical knowledge. Students are encouraged and oriented to perform research essays. Whenever possible, lectures with external guests are promoted.
The evaluation is continuous, through the practical application of knowledge in individual or group assignments, and research essays.
Demonstration of the Coherence between the Teaching Methodologies and the Learning Outcomes:
The methodologies of teaching and learning of this course were programmed to enhance the practical application of learned theoretical concepts. It is primarily intended for students to be able to identify adequate operational practices at the level of environmental management in healthcare facilities, to which they can actively contribute. Thus, the case studies analyzed in class are learning-oriented study that allow students to understand the relevance of these issues in the practice of environmental management, as well as of the important role they can play in this scope.
Reading:
1. Institute for Ecopreneurship; Sustainable Business Associate; & Royal Scientific Society (s.data). “Best Environmental Practices in the Healthcare Sector - A Guide to Improve your Environmental Performance”
2. Piteira, C. (2007). A Qualidade do Ar Interior em Instalações Hospitalares. Lisboa, LIDEL
3. Wagner, K.D. (1998) Environmental Management in Healthcare Facilities. W.B. Saunders.