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3442 Point of care ultrasound for the diagnosis of neck of femur fractures (PoCUS NOF)

emermed · 2026-04-20 · canonical JSON source

3 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Aims and Objectives Climate change is recognised as the greatest global health threat of the 21st century, with the NHS responsible for approximately 4% of the UK’s total carbon emissions. In line with GreenED and Greener NHS goals, this project aimed to reduce the Emergency Department’s digital energy consumption by lowering computer monitor brightness to 40%. Essentially a simple intervention with the potential for meaningful environmental and financial impact.Method and Design This staged intervention began with a 4-month initial data collection and implementation period in the Emergency Department of Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Brightness settings on 140 computers were reduced from the default 100% to 40%, excluding essential emergency-use devices. Power meters were used to measure energy consumption at both brightness levels across different monitor models (HP and Dell). Scan visibility was assessed by senior clinicians (ST4+), who reviewed chest, limb, abdominal and pelvic radiographs and CT images at both brightness levels. A follow-up staff survey evaluated usability and impact on workflow.Results and Conclusion Annual energy savings ranged from 4,203 to 6,260 kWh depending on the device model, equating to 813–1,210 kg CO 2e, or approximately 0.81–1.21 tones of CO2 per year, which is comparable to a round-trip flight from London to New York. Financial savings were estimated at £850–£1,270 annually. On the senior clinician survey, 92.6% of respondents did not notice a change in brightness, and no statistically significant differences in scan readability were found. This low-cost, easily scalable intervention demonstrated that environmentally conscious practices can be implemented without compromising patient care. Expansion across the Trust, which has over 11,000 computers, presents a scalable opportunity. This project highlights the importance of low-cost digital interventions in delivering greener, safer emergency care.