Earth Day!
In observance of Earth Day, we’re taking a moment to reflect on how even administrative processes in healthcare can impact our planet. Earth Day serves as a global reminder that environmental responsibility belongs to all of us. While the clinical side of medicine often receives the spotlight, behind-the-scenes departments like Medical Staff Services also play a role in shaping a greener future. By examining and improving the sustainability of processes like credentialing, we can reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and help build a healthier world.
The Global and National Paper Problem
The world produces more than 500 million metric tons of paper and cardboard every year. A staggering 50% of the waste of businesses is composed of paper, according to The World Counts. In the United States, paper accounts for approximately 26% of landfill waste, making it the single largest category of waste in our landfills.
According to 8 Billion Trees, an estimated 4 to 8 billion trees are cut down annually worldwide alone to produce paper products. The environmental impact includes:
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16 million acres of deforestation each year worldwide
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Increased carbon emissions, as paper mills are among the most energy- and water-intensive manufacturing processes
- 2,700 liters of water is used to make 1 tonne of paper
This paper trail leaves a substantial carbon footprint, contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, and declining air and water quality.
The Paper Burden in Healthcare Credentialing
Healthcare organizations, especially hospitals and large provider networks, are some of the heaviest users of paper when it comes to credentialing and provider management. The process often includes:
- 250–300 pages per new applicant during initial credentialing
- 150+ pages for each reappointment cycle
- 1,500-page monthly committee packets, especially in large institutions
- Multiplied across dozens of departments and hundreds (or even thousands) of practitioners, it’s not unusual for a single hospital to generate tens or hundreds of thousands of pages every year just for credentialing purposes.
This paper use not only impacts the environment but also creates:
- Operational inefficiencies (lost documents, redundant data entry)
- Longer turnaround times for provider onboarding
- Higher administrative costs for printing, storing, and processing
- Security risks related to physical document handling
As regulatory demands grow and staff bandwidth remains tight, these challenges only become more pressing.
A Greener, Smarter Way with MD-Staff
At MD-Staff, we believe that sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand. That’s why we offer digital solutions like:
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MD-App – A fully digital, user-friendly provider application tool that eliminates the need for paper-based forms and allows practitioners to submit and update credentials online.
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Virtual Committee – A paperless platform for reviewing and voting on applications, reappointments, and privileging actions, allowing committee members to collaborate securely from any location.
These tools are designed to:
- Streamline workflows
- Automate routine tasks
- Ensure compliance
- Reduce paper waste by up to 90%
The shift to digital isn’t just an IT upgrade—it’s an environmental commitment. Going paperless helps organizations meet internal sustainability goals and demonstrates accountability to patients, staff, and the community.
Let’s Reduce Paper—One Credential at a Time
On this Earth Day, let’s challenge ourselves to reimagine the way healthcare credentialing is done. Every form that’s filled out online, every committee meeting that goes virtual, and every application that skips the printer is a step in the right direction.
Sustainability starts with small steps—and every page saved is a win for the planet.
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