A System Dynamics Approach for Sustainable Water Management in Hospitals

Hospitals are a major stakeholder within the healthcare system and a large consumer of water resources. A goal of water sustainability related to hospitals is to effectively manage the use of water, while balancing factors related to the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. This paper discusses a systems thinking approach applied to model various factors and factor relationships associated to hospitals and water sustainability. A causal model representing key factors and factor relationships is shown. A system dynamics simulator is presented that illustrates the behavior of various factors associated to hospitals and water sustainability and assists decision makers in comprehending the impacts of their decisions. Simulator results based on actual hospital data are also provided.