Practice Greenhealth is excited to announce the recipients of this year’s Environmental Excellence Awards, recognizing health care facilities across the country that have maintained and strengthened their commitment to sustainability, and Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, French Hospital Medical Center, and Marian Regional Medical Center have each received the Partner for Change Award.
Health care institutions have found innovative ways to make progress on reducing their environmental impacts while facing unique challenges in the past year. These facilities recognize the intrinsic link between environment, climate, and health, and are working to lead by example.
Hospitals reported achievement across 11 different areas of sustainability through the annual Environmental Excellence Awards program – while highlighting their collaborations with the community, their investments in resilience, and their resolve to address issues of racial equity and health disparities.
Health care institutions have increasingly made formal commitments to address climate change, are engaging staff in supporting their sustainability programs, are working to avoid chemicals of concern in purchasing, are continuing to invest in energy-smart solutions, and are showing leadership in their local communities.
Winners range in size from large, urban, academic medical centers to rural critical access hospitals – but each facility is addressing the links between the environment and human health – and have programs and data to demonstrate their successes.