Beyond Healing: Embracing the Triple Bottom Line Approach in Post-pandemic Healthcare

Abstract

A triple bottom line (TBL) encompasses economic, social, and environmental dimensions, which provides a strategy for transforming contemporary healthcare systems. This study contextualized current TBL developments in healthcare under the spotlight of COVID-19 pandemic-related challenges and opportunities. The paper has five sections, including an introductory section that outlines the TBL concept and its relevance to healthcare. Following this, we provide an overview of the three pillars of the TBL, including its economic, social, and environmental dimensions as they relate to healthcare. This section also includes several case studies to illustrate TBL-based practices in diverse healthcare settings, focusing on how these were implemented and the outcomes and barriers to adopting such practices. In addition to showcasing current TBL practices, we review three significant challenges to TBL and highlight potential areas for future research, such as innovative practices, educational reform, and the need for the development of robust TBL metrics. The overarching conclusion is that the TBL provides a profound approach to conceptualizing contemporary healthcare to meet the urgent requirements for a more resilient, equitable, and environmentally responsible healthcare system.

Concern or Opportunity: Implementation of the TBL Criterion in the Healthcare System

“…This follows similar studies in other fields that confirm clear conceptual correctness and purpose [55,56]. By adopting this approach, our study advances sustainability research within the healthcare sector, which is consistent with Alim and Sulley's [78] recommendations that emphasize the need to further promote the implementation of the TBL approach and develop evaluation criteria. In consideration of the conclusions of a study of the sustainability of public hospitals in Portugal [79], which, by employing the DEA method, demonstrated that solely one healthcare organization is entirely sustainable via environmental, social, and economic perspectives, our findings acquire further significance in conjunction with all prior research.…”

Sustainable organizational integration of the advanced practice provider

“…17 While initially emerging in the business context, the TBL provides a three-dimensional lens of social, environmental, and economic sustainability performance and provides a framework for highly complex systems such as healthcare infrastructure. 18 As a resource-intensive industry, healthcare is pressed by cost, demand, and resource limitations.…”

“…It poses the priority for healthcare to be sustainable. 18 Recommendations were made for better measures for deploying a TBL model for profit include cost-effectiveness and space utilization. For the people component of TBL, the measures recommended are patient satisfaction scores, outcome measures, or employee engagement levels.…”

“…For the people component of TBL, the measures recommended are patient satisfaction scores, outcome measures, or employee engagement levels. 18 Environmental metrics in a TBL model could be carbon footprint, measures of waste, and energy in addition to cultural environmental measures. 18 Examining the TBL in healthcare can take on an entirely new meaning.…”

“…18 Environmental metrics in a TBL model could be carbon footprint, measures of waste, and energy in addition to cultural environmental measures. 18 Examining the TBL in healthcare can take on an entirely new meaning. The discussion aligning the TBL with healthcare discusses profit with value-based care and improved quality and efficiency.…”