Northrup, Benjamin E., Hanneman, Kate A., & Omary, Reed A. (2025).听.听BJR Open,听7(1), tzaf027.听
This review looks at the prefix聽鈥渆肠辞,鈥�聽which can refer to both聽ecology聽(the environment) and聽economics聽(financial systems). It introduces the idea of combining these two meanings into one unified approach. From this idea comes聽EcoRad, a framework that mixes economic and environmental principles to help improve how radiology is practiced.
EcoRad aims to achieve the聽triple bottom line, meaning it evaluates success not just by financial performance, but also by聽social听补苍诲听environmental聽impact. In other words, it encourages radiology departments to solve economic challenges in ways that are better for the planet, and to use economic strategies that support planetary health.
Using the EcoRad framework, the review encourages radiology departments to take five key steps to make the field more sustainable:
- Use sustainable procurement and maintenance
- Adopt green information technology (IT)聽and improve operational efficiency.
- Support payment models聽that reward environmentally friendly radiology.
- Promote green budgeting, which includes environmental priorities in financial planning.
- Work with patients, industry partners, insurers, and policymakers聽to advance sustainability efforts.
Overall, EcoRad provides a path for radiology to reduce its environmental footprint while still delivering high-quality care.
Figure 1.
The 鈥渆co鈥� framework.