In recent years, the globe has faced a series of topics of growing concern, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the international financial crisis, rising socio-economic inequalities, the negative outcomes of greenhouse gas emissions, which resulted in climate change, and many others. Organizations worldwide have confronted these new challenges of sustainable finance by incorporating environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors and digital transformation (DT) in their innovation business strategies. The healthcare sector represents a large share of the global economy (about 10% of global economic output), employs a large number of workers, and needs to rely more on an open innovation model where interested parties, especially patients, are going to have a say in their own well-being. Thus, it is imperative that healthcare providers be efficient, effective, resilient, and sustainable in the face of significant challenges and risks. At the same time, they must offer sustainable development goals and digital transformation to healthcare users through limited governmental resources. This study investigates the role, importance, and correlation of ESG factors and digital transformation to the sustainable finance of healthcare systems through an innovative model. The main purpose of the paper is to present the already implemented ESG and DT factors in the healthcare sector and to propose a mutual and combined implementation strategy based on common evaluation tools, methods, and actions. A set of proposed actions and strategies are presented for the sustainability and resilience of the healthcare sector.

The healthcare sector is an ever-growing industry which produces a vast amount of waste each year, and it is crucial for healthcare systems to have an effective and sustainable medical waste management system in order to protect public health. Greek public hospitals in 2018 produced 9500 tons of hazardous healthcare wastes, and it is expected to reach 18,200 tons in 2025 and exceed 18,800 tons in 2030. In this paper, we investigated the factors that affect healthcare wastes. We obtained data from all Greek public hospitals and conducted a regression analysis, with the management cost of waste and the kilos of waste as the dependent variables, and a number of variables reflecting the characteristics of each hospital and its output as the independent variables. We applied and compared several models. Our study shows that healthcare wastes are affected by several individual-hospital characteristics, such as the number of beds, the type of the hospital, the services the hospital provides, the number of annual inpatients, the days of stay, the total number of surgeries, the existence of special units, and the total number of employees. Finally, our study presents two prediction models concerning the management costs and quantities of infectious waste for Greece’s public hospitals and proposes specific actions to reduce healthcare wastes and the respective costs, as well as to implement and adopt certain tools, in terms of sustainability.

This paper presents a proposed circular economy (CE) model for hospital bio-waste management, using Athens as a case study to demonstrate its applicability in urban environments. The model incorporates waste segregation at the source, resource recovery methods such as composting and anaerobic digestion, and data-driven tools to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of healthcare waste management. The study investigates the transition from linear to CE practices, focusing on structured collection strategies, collaborative efforts between hospitals and municipal authorities, and continuous tracking of waste flows. A comprehensive analysis of bio-waste volumes from participating hospitals over a three-year period is conducted, utilizing multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tools such as TOPSIS to evaluate the system’s effectiveness. The results indicate a significant increase in hospital participation, improved waste separation, and optimized resource recovery, offering a scalable framework for other municipalities seeking to implement CE-based waste management practices in healthcare settings.

Background: Psychosocial factors such as anxiety, depression, and lack of social support are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of outcomes in cardiac surgery. Up to 32% of patients experience preoperative anxiety, and nearly 20% experience depression, both of which have been associated in observational studies with delayed recovery, increased complications, and higher mortality. Objective: This study aimed to review current evidence on psychosocial aspects of cardiac surgery and evaluate patient-centered care strategies that address these challenges. Methods: A narrative literature review was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect, focusing on recently published studies. The search covered studies published between January 2009 and June 2024, yielding 76 eligible studies after screening and thematic synthesis. Search terms included patient-centered care, psychosocial factors, cardiac surgery, anxiety, depression, rehabilitation, and telemedicine. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, qualitative studies, and systematic reviews. Results: Key themes included preoperative psychological preparation, management of anxiety and depression, promotion of quality of life, effective communication strategies, and integration of psychosocial support into rehabilitation programs. Evidence shows that psychological and social interventions reduce reported pain by up to 33%, as reported in pooled randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses; shorten hospital stay; improve adherence to treatment; and enhance long-term quality of life. Emerging tools such as telemedicine and digital platforms further expand access to psychosocial care. Conclusions: Integrating psychosocial care into cardiac surgery is essential for achieving holistic outcomes. Patient-centered models that emphasize communication, shared decision-making, family involvement, and digital support improve not only survival but also recovery, well-being, and patient satisfaction. Redefining success in cardiac surgery requires attention to both clinical results and the broader human experience of illness and recovery.

The healthcare sector faces significant challenges related to resource constraints, environmental impacts and increasing demand for services. This study examines how the integration of circular economy principles and organizational behavior can enhance the sustainability of healthcare systems. By implementing circular economy practices - such as waste reduction, material reuse and recycling - healthcare organizations can optimize resource use and minimize their ecological footprint. In addition, the role of organizational behavior is critical, as effective leadership, employee engagement and a supportive culture can lead to the adoption of sustainable practices that align with the organization’s mission. An integrated approach that combines circular economy strategies with supportive organizational practices enhances system resilience, reduces dependence on finite resources and promotes broader environmental and social sustainability goals. This study scrutinizes the critical role of organizational behavior in terms of management’s perception of climate change, the way a health organization operates in relation to staff mobilization and the views of its own staff always with climate change in mind and its effects. An analysis of a sample of 379 health professionals through a relevant questionnaire from the public and private sectors of the healthcare industry in Greece revealed a significant degree of detachment of the administrations from environmental concerns, with the simultaneous absence of motivation of the staff on corresponding issues, while negative was the health workers’ overall perception of climate, showing significant challenges in communication in addition to education and awareness within the organization. Overall, this research provides a window into the adoption of Organizational Behavior and Circular Economy principles by healthcare organizations in order to ensure their sustainability.