NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Free Destination CleanMed webinar series
The Destination CleanMed series features discussions building momentum that will culminate in Pittsburgh, May 23-25 for CleanMed 2023. Register now and invite your colleagues, collaborators, and partners to these free events.
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Practice Greenhealth releases latest sustainability benchmark data
We are pleased to share Practice Greenhealth’s latest sustainability benchmark report, based on data from the 2021 calendar year. The 345 hospitals that submitted data demonstrated that a focus on environmental stewardship can help health care organizations better protect the health of their communities and make progress on sustainability goals, while saving money and building resilience. The 2022 Environmental Excellence Awards applicants reported aggregate annual savings of more than $157 million on environmental programs – an increase of more than 50% since last year. Hospitals also reported avoiding 331,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through climate mitigation projects, more than four times higher than the previous year. Reporting hospitals: Saved enough water to fill 27 Olympic-sized swimming pools Diverted waste equivalent to the weight of 908 Boeing 747 jets Avoided GHG emissions equivalent to 71,282 gas-powered vehicles Learn more about the current state of sustainability in the health care sector, and help your facility get the data it needs to develop a business case for new initiatives, compare progress, and benchmark performance. See the data
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Use Earth Day to take steps toward building a culture of sustainability
I grew up in a temperate rainforest on the boundary of the Olympic National Park and the Quinault Indian Reservation in Washington. I have witnessed and experienced the effects of climate change. The melting of our local glacier has impacted salmon runs, rising sea levels and storms have threatened tribal villages along the coastline, and wildfires are becoming increasingly frequent.
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7 inspiring films & stories of hospital-community collaboration
Health Care Without Harm's new film and story series, "Partners in promoting health and equity: Stories of health care and community," explores how health care organizations can drive community collaboration and enrich the health and well-being…
Use Earth Day to take steps toward building a culture of sustainability
By Kate Gottlieb, Practice Greenhealth sustainability strategy manager
I grew up in a temperate rainforest on the boundary of the Olympic National Park and the Quinault Indian Reservation in Washington. I have witnessed and experienced…
First industry partner forum of 2023
Learn and network with affiliate premium partners
Join Practice Greenhealth on March 1 at 11:00 a.m. ET for our first partner forum of the year featuring 3M and Accenture.
These quarterly, interactive education and networking events…
Practice Greenhealth releases latest sustainability benchmark data
We are pleased to share Practice Greenhealth’s latest sustainability benchmark report, based on data from the 2021 calendar year.
The 345 hospitals that submitted data demonstrated that a focus on environmental stewardship can help…
Free Destination CleanMed webinar series
The Destination CleanMed series features virtual discussions building momentum that will culminate in Pittsburgh, May 23-25 for CleanMed 2023. Join us for these informative, free events, and invite your colleagues, collaborators, and partners. …
Climate-smart pharmacy: A prescription for a healthier planet
Join two pharmacists and a physician on Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT to learn about the climate impact of pharmaceuticals, including metered dose inhalers, along with opportunities for health professionals to promote climate-smart pharmacy…
We're getting together in Pittsburgh for CleanMed
Join us May 23-25 in Pittsburgh at CleanMed 2023 as we connect, share, and build upon solutions for a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable health care sector.
As the premier health care sustainability conference, CleanMed offers the…
New virtual cohorts begin next month
Practice Greenhealth’s virtual cohorts have been facilitating meaningful dialogue among groups of sustainability and health care professionals for over six years. We continue to drive change in the health care community by bringing together peers…
Last Affiliate Premium Partner Forum of 2022
Learn and network with new affiliate premium partners
Join Practice Greenhealth on December 8 at 11:00 a.m. ET for our last partner forum of the year featuring GE HealthCare and Johnson & Johnson.
These quarterly, interactive…
8 recipes and video demos to inspire your Plant-Forward Future
We teamed up with chefs Jessica Wright, director of healthy food in institutions for Nourish Colorado, and Andre Uribe, founder of Sustainable Meals Oregon, to create recipes and film demo videos for eight mouthwatering, plant-forward dishes. …
Partner perspective: HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center
Ryan Kirane Assistant vice president of operations and sustainability officer at HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center
Number of beds: 120
Number of FTE: 615
HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson…
Meet the team: Matt Pietro
Matt Pietro has served Practice Greenhealth as sustainability strategy manager since February 2022. Learn about his proudest moment at Practice Greenhealth, who is on his A-team, and why he looks forward to Halloween.
Who is on your A-team…
Start your ovens: The Health Care Culinary Contest is back
Health care culinary professionals across the country are taking their menus to new levels in creativity and flavor, all powered by plants.
Health Care Without Harm and…
The Inflation Reduction Act brings new opportunities for health care’s climate action
President Biden recently signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the strongest U.S. climate action ever, with $369 billion in strategic investments over the next ten years to drive the growth of clean energy and cut the nation’s carbon…
VIDEO: Colorado beans from field to tray
Plant-Forward Future is helping hospitals and other institutions purchase and serve healthy, locally-sourced beans and bean products to…
Meet the team: Iqbal Mian
Iqbal Mian has served Practice Greenhealth as director of sustainability solutions since February 2022. Learn about the opportunities he sees in health care, his favorite photo, and how he got his “Hollywood” nickname.
What are the most…
Partner perspective: PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
Brian Nelson Sustainability programs manager at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
Number of beds: 450 licensed (386 staffed)
Number of FTE: 4,925
PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center’s…
White House event celebrates U.S. health care's commitment to address climate impacts
WASHINGTON (June 30, 2022) – At a White House…
Sustainable ophthalmology: Eye care with a vision for climate-smart surgery
Join us for the next Grand Round Series event | Sustainable ophthalmology: Eye care with a vision for climate-smart surgery
In this session moderated by ENT surgeon Dr. Neelu Tummala, ophthalmologists will discuss the environmental impact of…
Affiliate Premium Partner Forum
Learn and network with new affiliate premium partners
Join Practice Greenhealth at 11 a.m. ET, 8 a.m. PT June 22 for our second partner forum of 2022 with affiliate premium partners Medline and Schneider Electric.
These quarterly,…
Announcing the winner of the Health Care Culinary Contest
We are excited to announce the winner and ask you to join us in celebrating the winner, finalists, and all the participants.
The grand prize winner of the 2021 Health Care Culinary Contest is: UW Health’s Afghan-style vegetable…
Celebrating the 2022 Climate and Health Innovation Award recipient
The Climate and Health Innovation Award recognizes a hospital or health system for innovative work that addresses the health and equity impacts of climate change. Health Care Without Harm’s…
Mitchell named Health Care Without Harm’s 2022 Environmental Health Hero
Harold Mitchell, ReGenesis Community Development Corporation founder and executive director, is the recipient of Health Care Without Harm’s highest honor, the 2022 Environmental Health Hero Award. Mitchell is being honored for his leadership in…
Dr. Kathy Murphy honored with 2022 Charlotte Brody Award for environmental nursing leadership
Health Care Without Harm and the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments are proud to present Dr. Kathy Murphy with the 2022 Charlotte Brody…
Plant Powered 30: A fun, new employee engagement activity
Spring is upon us and it's the perfect time to celebrate the delicious bounty of the season. Plant Powered 30 is a 30-day challenge to inspire your employees to choose a plant-…
Celebrating the 2022 Emerging Physician Leader Award and Sadler Fellowship recipients
The Emerging Physician Leader Award, established by the Health Care Without Harm Physician Network in 2018, recognizes medical students, residents, and fellows who have demonstrated a passion for sustainable health care or a commitment to climate…
Celebrating the 2022 Stephanie Davis Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention Award recipients
The Stephanie Davis Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention Award and Scholarship is an enduring tribute to Davis, who worked with Health Care Without Harm at its inception in 1996. Davis was a tireless champion of the movement toward…
Sustainable procurement insights
We need opinions from health care procurement and supply chain professionals. Health care sustainability is changing more quickly than ever before, as are how procurement and supply chain professionals are seeking guidance and learning…
Students, jumpstart your career in sustainable health care at CleanMed
Calling all health professional students, are you ready to jumpstart your career in sustainable health care? CleanMed is the premier national conference for leaders in health care sustainability – both current and future.
Welcoming the next…
Welcoming clinician leaders to CleanMed
Calling all doctors, nurses, and other health professionals – you are invited to the annual CleanMed conference in Kansas City May 10-12, 2022. CleanMed…
Level up your sustainable procurement at CleanMed
At CleanMed 2022 May 10-12 in Kansas City, explore how health care’s collective purchasing power can shape the marketplace, increase demand for sustainable products,…
Join your fellow climate champions at CleanMed
2022 is the year we accelerate the decarbonization of health care. And CleanMed 2022 offers the strategies we need for moving from commitment to action to impact.…
Cook up climate action at CleanMed
Food service is a powerful but often untapped lever with the potential to improve patient and community health, address diet-related disease, reduce carbon footprints, and build community wealth and resilience. At …
We’re getting together in Kansas City for CleanMed
CleanMed 2022 – the premier event for leaders in health care sustainability – will bring us back together in person May 10-12 in Kansas City. After a challenging couple of years, we can’t wait to convene, connect, share, and build on…
Welcoming new industry partners
We previously announced the expansion of the Practice Greenhealth network to industry partners by inviting value chain partners like manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, government agencies, nonprofits, and higher education to join.…
Partner perspective: UCHealth
John Drigot and Lajju Sudhakar Sustainability coordinator and Business manager for support services at UCHealth
Number of beds: 1,997 beds
Number of FTE: 26,080
UCHealth's sustainability…
Practice Greenhealth grows to over 1,400 hospitals
A 2020 Boston Consulting Group (BCG) survey of more than 3,000 people across eight countries has found that in the wake of the pandemic, people are now more concerned – not less – about addressing environmental challenges and are more committed…
5 hospital chefs compete for gold with plant-forward recipes
Finalists revealed, winner to be announced at CleanMed 2022
The 2021 Health Care Culinary Contest broke new barriers for plant-forward cooking, and our five…
Grand rounds series: The path to climate-smart, net-zero emissions health care
Presented by Health Care Without Harm in partnership with the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, this five-part virtual grand rounds series explores strategies to reduce health care emissions and features the leadership of climate…
Affiliate Premium Partner Forum
Learn and network with new affiliate premium partners
Join Practice Greenhealth on March 9 at 11:00 a.m. ET as we kick off our 2022 partner forum series with B. Braun, Stericycle, and other affiliate premium partners. These quarterly,…
Scope 3 GHG Emissions Accounting Tool released
To further assist our partner health systems and hospitals calculate their value chain emissions impact and identify where to focus reduction activities, we are pleased to release the Scope 3 GHG Emissions Accounting…
Destination CleanMed Series: Climate-smart health system strategies
The Destination CleanMed series features discussions building momentum that will culminate in Kansas City May 10-12 for CleanMed 2022. Register now and invite your colleagues, collaborators, and partners to this free event.
Join us March…
Cool Food Pledge information session (Free)
Find out more about the Cool Food Pledge in a free, 30-minute information session. Tuesday, February 22 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT)
Over 40 Practice Greenhealth partners have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions from food…
New resources to support data quality
Practice Greenhealth has been collecting sustainability performance data from hospitals and health systems for over 20 years. As sustainability expectations have evolved, Practice Greenhealth continues to refine the data and metrics we utilize to…
Environmental Excellence Awards application deadline extended
UPDATE: Environmental Excellence award application deadline extended to May 4, 2022. Earn the recognition you deserve Validate your hard work and continue making the business case for sustainable operations by participating in the Environmental…
New virtual cohorts starting next month
Practice Greenhealth’s virtual cohorts have been facilitating meaningful dialogue among groups of sustainability and health care professionals for over five years. We continue to orchestrate change in the health care community by bringing…
CleanMed 2022 registration is open
CleanMed 2022 is going to Kansas City, Missouri, May 10-12. After a challenging couple of years for the health care sector and the planet, we’re ready to get back together. Even though the pandemic has fundamentally changed the health care…
New Pandemic perspective shares insights on health care sustainability
The COVID-19 pandemic upended health care and continues to have lasting impacts on the way we deliver care. It brought significant shifts in hospital operations, from shutting down elective surgeries and reducing food service to dealing with…
Partner perspective: Spectrum Health (Part 2 of 2)
Matt Cox CFO at Spectrum Health
Number of beds: 2,522 beds
Number of FTE: 31,000
Part twoMatt Cox has served as Spectrum Health’s CFO and the executive sponsor for the system’s sustainability…
2021 Sustainability Benchmark Report released
We are pleased to share Practice Greenhealth’s latest sustainability benchmark report, based on data from the 2020 calendar year.
The 269 hospitals that submitted data demonstrated that a focus on environmental stewardship can help health care…
Shaw Industries’ commercial brands receive sustainability seal-of-approval
Patcraft & Shaw Contract become first flooring manufacturers with resilient and carpet tile products with Greenhealth Approved Seal
Today, Practice Greenhealth announced Shaw Industries’ commercial brands – Patcraft and Shaw Contract – as…
New Practice Greenhealth network industry partner opportunities
As the voice of sustainability in health care, Practice Greenhealth is ideally positioned to help our hospital partners meet challenges and capture opportunities facing our ever-changing industry.
We believe health care is everyone's…
Seeking America’s next top hospital chef
Ready to amp up your sales and customer satisfaction while reducing your environmental impact? Then the Health Care Culinary Contest – which opens Oct. 1 – is the perfect addition to your sustainability work. This year’s contest builds on the…
Partner perspective: Spectrum Health (Part 1 of 2)
Matt Cox CFO at Spectrum Health
Number of beds: 2,522 beds
Number of FTE: 31,000
Part oneMatt Cox has served as Spectrum Health’s CFO and the executive sponsor for the system’s sustainability…
Meet the team: Christopher Bodkin
Christopher Bodkin lives in rural New Hampshire and has served Practice Greenhealth as a data coordinator since 2013. Get his take on the importance of adopting a circular mindset, how data can drive a successful sustainability program, and his…
Practice Greenhealth announces 2021 Environmental Excellence Award winners
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 amidst a…
A shared food purchasing standard for hospitals, schools, & municipalities
We are updating our healthy food purchasing guidance in collaboration with our Anchors in Action partners to create a new cross-sector-aligned standard. Collective power
A shared food purchasing standard for hospitals, universities…
Montefiore shares tips for reducing e-waste & GHG emissions while saving money
Michael Matos
Michael Matos, green initiative liaison for Montefiore Health System, has 15 years of experience in healthcare and six years in waste management. He’s been responsible for creating, implementing,…
Partner perspective: CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital
Dustin Maddy Sustainability Program Analyst at Centra Care St. Cloud Hospital
Number of beds: 489 licensed beds (309) 798 total
Number of FTE: 13,000 + 15,000 volunteers
Dustin Maddy has served…
12 health systems shift procurement strategies to address economic, racial & environmental disparities
The 12 health systems announced signing the Impact Purchasing Commitment (IPC) to build healthy, equitable, and climate-resilient local economies through how they spend their dollars. The commitment directs health care purchasing toward…
May 26: The health care sector joins the Race to Zero campaign
On May 26, Health Care Without Harm, in collaboration with the UN’s Climate Champions, will launch the Race to Zero campaign for health care, showcasing institutions from six continents that have joined the Race to Zero.
These hospitals…
Protection without pollution: COVID-19 waste-reduction strategies
The world is undertaking the largest immunization campaign in history to fight COVID-19. Billions will be vaccinated in the coming years, which is generating an unprecedented amount of waste. If we plan ahead, we can minimize the impact and waste…
Announcing the winner of the 2020 Health Care Culinary Contest
The 2020 Health Care Culinary Contest kicked off in October, challenging hospital chefs to embrace the #PlantForwardFuture with their own original creations.
We…
Partner perspective: Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Suzanne Savanick Hansen Environmental Sustainability Specialist at Allina Health
Number of beds: 605
Number of FTE: 5,579
Suzanne Savanick Hansen has served Abbott Northwestern Hospital as the environmental…
Meet the team: Hillary Greenwood
Hillary Greenwood has served Practice Greenhealth as director of advisory services since 2019. Prior to this role, she spent a decade in various roles in the organization. Greenwood lives in southwest Michigan with her husband and young son. Read…
11 hospital food champions told us what plant-forward means to them
We asked 11 hospital food champions what plant-forward means to them. Hear their thoughts on shaping a #PlantForwardFuture and check out 32 resources for chefs and food service pros.
Nina Curtis, Adventist…
Supporting resilient communities, one meal at a time
[Medium] Fabio Edwards said working at Dig Deep Farms — a Bay Area-based nonprofit in California…
6 CleanMed virtual sessions recordings now available
The CleanMed Virtual Series featured six interactive webinars designed for those passionate about resilience in health care to connect and innovate. If you were unable to attend the sessions live, or if you would like to view and share any – or…
Changes to Environmental Excellence Awards
2020 has been a year of immense turmoil, placing unprecedented pressure on our health care providers. To support our members, Practice Greenhealth revised our Environmental Excellence Awards process.
For the 2021 awards season, we are…
Meet the team: Kate Gottlieb
Kate Gottlieb has served as a Practice Greenhealth sustainability strategy manager since February. She lives in Yakima, Washington. Learn about what prompted her to work on environmental sustainability initiatives and how she went from hunting…
Santore selected for 2020 leadership award
Practice Greenhealth’s Visionary Leader Award annually recognizes a senior-level health care executive who has effectively advocated for and woven sustainability and environmental stewardship into health care operations through innovative…
3-time Greening the OR champ saves $1 million
For the third year in a row, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) received Practice Greenhealth’s Greening the OR Leadership Award for their industry-leading, comprehensive program, which reduces the environmental impact of MSK’s surgical…
The new seal for sustainable health care purchasing
Purchasing made easy
Hospitals utilize thousands of products each day, and many factors drive these product selections. Some products have lengthy supply chains involving many different manufacturers, complicating the decision-making process.…
11 hospitals healing health care through sustainable purchasing
More than 70% of a health system’s greenhouse gas emissions are embedded in the products and services they buy. As a resource-intensive…
Your new guide for sustainable procurement
As a resource-intensive industry with enormous buying power, health facilities are prioritizing sustainable procurement both for financial sustainability and for the benefit of their patients, staff, community, and planet.
The COVID-19…
How to reduce waste during a pandemic
Seeking ways to reduce waste during a pandemic may feel like an impossible or unimportant task, but it is more important than ever. Greenhouse gas emissions from waste represent 1-5% percent of U.S. emissions, and hospitals produce an average of…
Resourceful PPE strategies bridged the gap, now hospitals seek sustainable solutions
Practice Greenhealth member Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Washington, was among the first hospitals to receive and treat COVID-19 patients.
They used more personal protective equipment (PPE) in two months in early 2020 than…
25 hospitals setting the standard for sustainability in health care
Practice Greenhealth announced the 2020 recipients of the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Awards, the most prestigious environmental achievement for health care.
Including the Top 25, Practice Greenhealth recognized 421 health…
Virtual session recording: Building community health and resilience beyond COVID-19
Resilience virtual session | Recorded May 27, 2 p.m. EST
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the vast inequities and vulnerabilities across health care, supply chains, and our communities. Now more than ever, we are seeing the importance of…
COVID-19 update
We recognize the burden our community is under. Many of you are on the front lines of this unfolding crisis caring for people with COVID-19. From all the staff at Practice Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm, thank you for your tireless work…
OR nurses repurpose blue wrap for those in need
University of Chicago Health staff went above and beyond when they tackled the ever-growing pile of blue wrap coming out of their surgery department. Challenged with luke-warm recycling markets, Amber Kratochvil, operating room associate director…
Earth Day 2020: Show and tell
April 22 is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and this year’s theme is climate action. There is no better time to raise our collective voice and show the world how health care leads on climate to protect health. No matter what your role may be…
2019 health care food trends
Plant-forward is here to stay
Hospitals throughout the nation are serving less meat and a plethora of gourmet plant-forward meals that would be could be found in the menu at a high-end, trendy restaurant.…
Driving down emissions through fleet strategy
Our cars, our health
The American Lung Association’s 19th annual “state of the air” report found that 134 million Americans – more than 41% – lived in…
Taking Practice Greenhealth on the road
By Scott Rich, Practice Greenhealth marketing and growth associate director
Over the summer months and into autumn, I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with Practice Greenhealth partners, prospects, and…
On the road - and the boardwalk - with HealthPartners
By Shanda Demorest, Practice Greenhealth member engagement manager
The ask. Long before I joined Practice Greenhealth in May 2019, Karoline Sperling at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minn., heard I was a nurse looking to…
Win a trip to Orlando with the Culinary Contest
Ready to amp up your sales and customer satisfaction while simultaneously reducing your environmental impact? Then the Health Care Culinary Contest – which opens October 1 – is the perfect addition to your sustainability work…
What happens when you pay employees not to park?
Long commutes. Congested roads. No available parking. These are familiar headaches for staff, patients, and administration at almost every hospital and health care facility, including St. John’s Medical and Living Center in Jackson, Wyo. A…
Global health care sector is a major contributor to the climate crisis
New report provides first-ever estimate of health care’s global climate footprint, calls for zero emissionsIf the global health care sector were a country, it would be the fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter…
Regions Hospital shows how contest can spice up sustainability work
Chef Michael White is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has been a chef with Sodexo for more than 15 years. White cooks for Regions Hospital in Minnesota.
New tree planting program for hospitals
Health care promoting healthy cities by planting trees
Studies show that patients who have a view of trees spend fewer days in the hospital than patients…
Meet the team: Julie Moyle
Julie Moyle has served Practice Greenhealth as a member engagement manager since 2015. She lives in Golden, Colo., where she is also an OR nurse. Learn about her proudest moment at Practice Greenhealth, her thoughts on emerging issues in…
Guided by the philosophy of ‘why’
One man’s justification for sustainable procurement
Kunle Modupe, Hackensack Meridian Health’s vice president for hospitality services, hasn’t spent a lifetime in health care. In fact, it was during his 22-year career in the luxury hotel…
UW Health lowers energy intensity by 25%
UW Health quietly pushed forward since its 2017’s big achievement in LEED Gold for the American Center, a first for Wisconsin and one of 17 in the United States. Commitments to continue conservation have increased with formal targets in water…
On the road: From the stage to the utility plant at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus
This living wall covers an impressive amount of space giving occupants a moment and area of respite.
By Iqbal Mian, Practice Greenhealth member engagement manager
Being in driving proximity to the Mayo…
For hospitals, ‘plant-forward’ means big sales and a cooler planet
“I don’t sell plant-based, I sell delicious looking and tasting food that just happens to be plant-based.” – Dan Henroid, University of California San Francisco Medical Center
Dan Henroid knows that…
Meet the team: Shanda Demorest
Shanda Demorest joined Practice Greenhealth as a member engagement manager in May 2019. She lives in Minneapolis. Find out what she bought with her very first paycheck, how nursing prepared her for…
Practice Greenhealth offers members report cards to enhance goal-setting
“Thanks to the data analyzed through the awards platform at Practice Greenhealth, we're in a healthier position to categorically mitigate the various wastes associated with health care operations, while improving patient and community health.…
Maximizing the role of governance in environmental stewardship strategy
Practice Greenhealth’s 2019 Visionary Leader Award winner Barbara Tretheway arrived at HealthPartners in 2000 wanting to make a difference at work and in the community. As general counsel, much of her focus was on governance…
Memorial Sloan Kettering saves big, is honored for achievements
The surgery department is sometimes referred to as the soul or epicenter of a hospital for a number of reasons: It can bring in up to 60% of a facility’s revenue, and the reputation of the operating room is often tied directly to the…
Meet the team: Thresa Pattee
Thresa Pattee has served Practice Greenhealth as a member engagement manager since 2018 and as the food program coordinator for Healthy Food in Health Care and Practice Greenhealth for two years prior. Discover her favorite volunteer…
Leading U.S. hospitals recognized for their sustainability commitment
Practice Greenhealth is excited to announce this year’s recipients of the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Awards, the most prestigious environmental achievement for health care. These facilities exemplify the highest standards for environmental…
Local doctor-farmer gives a foodie tour of Nashville
CleanMed is right around the corner and this year, national leaders in health care sustainability will gather in Nashville to inspire change and discuss strategies for solving…
Sutter Health and Practice Greenhealth gather for healthier environments visioning
Dr. Stephen Lockhart, Sutter Health’s chief medical officer and executive sponsor for sustainability, highlighted the health system’s priority focus areas.
By Janet…
Practice Greenhealth offers pharmaceutical disposal guidance
There is increased concern over pharmaceuticals in waterways. There are “no drugs down the drain” rules in certain states. And harm can come from unauthorized access to controlled substances and the resulting wastage. Health care facilities must…
Practice Greenhealth member saves money with sustainable office supplies
Dignity Health supply chain and sustainability staff worked collaboratively with Staples, their office supply distributor, to improve the use of more sustainable office supplies throughout their network. The results of this initiative…
Everyday food heroes
Food Day is an annual event on Oct. 24 that inspires Americans to change not only their diets but also our food system. But for hospitals in our network, it’s Food Day every day. Food service directors, chefs, nutritionists, and other hospital…
USA Today: Practice Greenhealth members prove business case for sustainability
Practice Greenhealth members were featured in “A profitable…
Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to join sustainability leaders at CleanMed
Gina McCarthy, former EPA administrator, professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and director of the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, has accepted our invitation to be the keynote speaker…
Practice Greenhealth highlights members’ progress during national energy efficiency event
New Orleans is known for festivals and food. It is also known for a complicated recovery from Hurricane Katrina. At the time of the infamous storm’s landfall, there was one local LEED building. Fourteen years later, more than 1,000…
Rochester Regional Health recognized for climate innovations
In 2018, Practice Greenhealth member Rochester Regional Health was selected as the inaugural winner of the Climate and Health Innovation…
Practice Greenhealth members join Health Care Climate Council
The U.S. Health Care Climate Council has welcomed two new members. University of California Health (UC Health) and …
Practice Greenhealth visits HCA Healthcare
By Janet Howard, Practice Greenhealth member engagement manager
Headquartered in vibrant Nashville, Tenn., HCA Healthcare (HCA) has more than 170 hospitals across the country and approximately 1,800 sites of care, including surgery…
UC Health commits to 100% clean energy by 2025
The University of California (UC) announced a bold expansion of its systemwide…
CleanMed sessions free for members to view
For the first time, we’re providing all Practice Greenhealth members with access to view the more than 60 CleanMed sessions for free. Take advantage of this added member benefit to learn from and be inspired by colleagues and experts from across…
Practice Greenhealth's Christopher Bodkin honored as GreenBiz 30 under 30
From GreenBiz:
"We're pleased to introduce the 2018 class of 30 inspiring young leaders who are demonstrating the world-changing promise of…
Calling all nurses
Health Care Without Harm and the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments recently launched the Nurses Climate Challenge, which empowers nurses to educate 5,000 health professionals on the health impacts of climate change and how to be part of…
Finding your voice in the climate story
What is your unique climate story? Rachelle Reyes Wenger, Dignity Health's director of public policy and community advocacy, delivers a CleanMed Talk challenging us to reflect on who we are and the tremendous power we each possess to change the…
Sharing Greening the OR strategies and savings
Practice Greenhealth recently attended the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses conference in New Orleans to promote environmental best practices in the operating room. We shared Greening the OR resources and five strategies that can…
Hospitals recognized for their sustainability leadership
Practice Greenhealth announces winners of Top 25 Environmental Excellence Awards
[Washington, DC] Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading nonprofit membership and networking organization for sustainable health care, has announced the winners…
GreenBiz left me feeling hopeful
By Lauren Koch, Health Care Without Harm climate and health program associate director
Let’s get one thing out of the way: I have been eying the GreenBiz…
Baby steps toward big goals: Dr. Gandhi’s leadership in the OR
By Kaeleigh Sheehan, Member Engagement and Greening the OR manager
“Globally, nationally, as a sector, we have to set higher standards, and be more mindful of our impact,” says Dr. Seema Gandhi, associate clinical professor of…
On the Road: Practice Greenhealth partners with Dignity Health
By Iqbal Mian, Practice Greenhealth member engagement manager
The first time I saw Sister Mary Ellen Leijewski, Dignity Health’s vice president of corporate responsibility, was at …
Validation, motivation, and reputation: How the Environmental Excellence Awards can strengthen member’s sustainability efforts
On a recent winter morning, Michael J. Fiore CIH, CSP, director of Environmental Occupational Health and Safety/Sustainability at NorthShore University HealthSystem, sat down with Hermine Levey Weston for a conversation about the value…
Celebrate Award Winners
The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellend Award winners were honrered at the awards Gala & Celebration Dinner held on May 9 during CleanMed 2018 in San Diego, California. The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellend Award winners…
Healthier environments demonstrate respect for health care workers
By Veronique Nagle, Practice Greenhealth human resources director
As a Practice Greenhealth member, your organization is striving for healthier environments, healthier people, and a healthier bottom line. In times of…
Millennials and sustainability: Recruiting and retaining the next generation of health care
By Lauren Koch, Health Care Without Harm climate and health program associate director
I am on the edge of the millennial generation. And, it turns out, my career path mirrors the research on my generation.
After earning a…
Health Care Without Harm's Bill Ravanesi earns "Environmental Champion Award"
The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellend Award winners were honrered at the awards Gala & Celebration Dinner held on May 9 during CleanMed 2018 in San Diego, California. The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellend Award winners…
Healthier environments demonstrate respect for health care workers
As a Practice Greenhealth member, your organization is striving for healthier environments, healthier people, and a healthier bottom line. In times of trying to do more with less, while also. As a Practice Greenhealth member, your organization is…
How 5 hospitals set environmental purchasing priorities and saved millions
By Beth Eckl, Practice Greenhealth Environmental Purchasing program director
You’ve secured leadership support, built a team of colleagues who were successful in getting an environmental purchasing policy adopted, and…
With a little help from our friends
By Gary Cohen, Practice Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm president
2017 has been a year of uncertainty. We saw some of the largest demonstrations in modern history, including the Women’s March, the People’s…
Envisioning an ‘Udderly Green’ future for health care landscapes
What began as an employee engagement campaign at Gundersen Health System blossomed into a project aimed at inspiring health care landscapers across the country.
Gundersen Envision, a subsidiary of Gundersen Health…
Anesthesia providers lead in health care GHG reduction
How 1 hospital is saving $20k a month and reducing GHGs
By Kaeleigh Sheehan, Practice Greenhealth Greening the OR and member engagement manager With mounting threats…
Following our food: How health care can inform the data revolution and bring transparency to the plate
Imagine a world where food is traced from farm to fork, using data that can be accessed at the touch of a screen. Photos, ingredients, micro-nutrients, packaging details, production location and sustainability attributes, etc. — all the…
The role of transportation in achieving hospital greenhouse gas reduction goals
Julie Moyle, MSN, RN, outreach and engagement specialist
If your sustainability priorities don’t include a transportation program and strategies to reduce transportation-related emissions, you are missing a big opportunity to reduce…
New Hospital Resource Highlights Environmental Best Practices
[From Ohio Hospital Assocation] The Ohio Hospital Association’s Energy and Sustainability Program teamed up…
Educating clinicians on health impacts of climate change
By Sarah Spengeman, Ph.D., Health Care Without Harm Climate and Health program associate director
Have you thought to yourself, “How can my hospital or system step up its climate leadership?” If so, Health Care Without…
In Search of Sustainable Products
By John Strong Principal of John Strong, LLC and serves as president of Greenhealth Management
As you shake the sleep off, you realize that the sounds of your 12-year-old daughter’s latest asthma attack woke you. You…
Effectively Managing Waste Anesthesia Gas
By Julie Moyle, MSN, RN Outreach and Engagement Specialist
General anesthesia administered during surgical/interventional procedures typically includes the administration of anesthesia gases. Only about 5 percent of…
Greening the Operating Room
By Kaeleigh Sheehan, Member Engagement Manager, Greening the OR
Summer might be a time to slow down, relax, enjoy the longer sunshine hours, but for the Greening the OR team, the fun is just getting started! *That’s not really true, the…
Hospitals collaborate with vendors to address public health through animal agriculture
By Hillary Greenwood Thanks to increasing demand for poultry raised without routine antibiotics, cost reductions and improved availability have made it easier for hospitals to add more sustainably-raised chicken to their menus. Health systems in…
On the Road with Practice Greenhealth: June 2017 Greenbeat
The Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN. Welcomed Hermine Levey Weston
By Hermine Levey Weston, RN MBA
My father, an oral surgeon, was what we nurses referred to as a “tough patient.” When hospitalized, I…
Association of Climate Change Officers and Practice Greenhealth Announce Partnership
Organizations To Align Efforts on Education & Training of Healthcare System Professionals
WASHINGTON, DC – April 26, 2017 – The Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) and Practice Greenhealth, organizations who have a common…
Practice Greenhealth Announces Winners of Top 25 Environmental Excellence Awards
Most prestigious environmental achievement award recognizing sector’s top hospitals
(Reston, VA) — Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading nonprofit membership and networking organization for sustainable…
On the Road with Practice Greenhealth
Julie Moyle, MSN, RN, Outreach and Engagement Specialist
Climate Reality Leadership Training with Al GoreFor three days in early March, I was immersed in an amazing collage of humanity focused on the greater good. I was one of 972…
Major Food Service Management Companies Help to Fill the GAP for Hospital Chicken Needs
Hillary Greenwood, National Procurement Director, Health Care Without Harm, Healthy Food in Health Care Program
2016 was a momentous year for addressing routine antibiotic use and animal welfare in broiler chicken production. While many…
The Environmental Excellence Awards
Each year, a growing number of Practice Greenhealth members participate in the Environmental Excellence Awards. It’s safe to say, the awards applications are a considerable undertaking, and…
Practice Greenhealth’s Sustainability Benchmark Report Shows Strong Progress in Environmental Performance Among Nation’s Leading Hospitals
Details health care sustainability trends across key areas: green purchasing, safer chemicals, climate change mitigation, energy and waste reduction, local and sustainable food
Washington, DC – Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading…
Over 70 Hospitals Engaged in Conscientious Culinary Creativity for Food Day
Blog posted by the Healthy Food Team of Practice Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm
To celebrate Food Day in 2016, Health…
Florida Health Systems share water and energy efficiency best practices
By Julie Moyle, MSN, RN, Outreach and Engagement Specialist, Practice Greenhealth
In 2016, the state of Florida saw states of emergencies as a result of a …
Blue Wrap and the Circular Economy
Christopher Bodkin, Data Coordinator Sector Performance and Recognition
Waste from the health care sector is significant:
255 Million lbs. of blue wrap is thrown away annually. Businesses are turning…
On the Road with Practice Greenhealth
Practice Greenhealth at HPRC and Wisconsin Healthy Hospitals & Clinics Forum
Iqbal Mian, Member Engagement Manager
Earlier this fall, Practice Greenhealth along with various hospital systems, suppliers…
GCO Calculator
Look beyond the price tag – consider the organization’s total financial commitment when purchasing products and services.
Hospitals have an enormous energy footprint—the impact of this is costly, both financially and environmentally.
…
Think Locally, Track Sustainability
Food service departments across the country are influencing their supply chain by channeling human health values into their purchasing choices. Yet, the impact does not end at the point of purchase. When these products are tracked with…
Greenhealth Exchange Issues Statement on Sustainable Meat and Poultry
RESTON, Virginia (September 1, 2016)—Last week, nine leading health systems—Advocate Health Care, Catholic Health Initiatives, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Gundersen Health System, HackensackUMC, Kaiser Permanente, Partners HealthCare*, University…
New exchange aims to bleed green, not red
Greenhealth pushes sustainable products, services to the forefront of contract availability
Accurate measuring of “local” and “sustainable” starts with separation
Are local and sustainable foods the same thing? The response, in short, is not always. Applying the terms “local” and “sustainable” synonymously and interchangeably can lead to false conclusions. As health care facilities strive to incorporate…
Practice Greenhealth and Feeding America Partner to Mobilize Health Care
Hospitals and food banks will provide nutritious food to communities in need across the country.
June 7, 2016 (Reston, Virginia) – Practice Greenhealth and Feeding America announced today a new collaboration to help…
The Power of Visioning and Goal Setting
Kathy Gerwig presented Kaiser Permanente’s Bold Goals for improved environmental performance in a Practice Greenhealth March 2016 webinar entitled “…
Furniture Companies Release Lists of Environmentally Preferable Products
Showcases growing movement to eliminate chemicals of concern from health care
[Reston, VA] Eleven furniture manufacturers and two textile suppliers have publicly released lists of products that avoid the use of chemicals linked to negative…
Dignity Health to Divest from Coal and Invest in Green Investments
Eric Lerner, US Climate Director, Health Care Without Harm
During the recent COP21 climate negotiations in Paris, France, Dignity Health announced it is divesting from thermal coal companies, expanding sustainable investments, increasing…
How are health care quality improvement and environmental sustainability connected?
By Hermine Levey Weston, RN MBA, Member Engagement Manager, Practice Greenhealth
Part two of a two-part blog series begun last…
University of Maryland Medical Center Awarded LEED Certification for Shock Trauma Critical Care Tower
Baltimore – Oct. 13, 2015. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) has been awarded LEED Gold certification for its Shock Trauma Critical Care Tower, a 140,000-square-foot patient care building that was completed in late 2013. LEED (…
2015 Sustainable Operations Survey
10.07.15 by Beth Burmahl, Suzanna Hoppszallern Senior Editor, Jamie Morgan
Hospitals make fruitful progress toward sustainability as some take great strides and others stick to baby stepsWhen it comes to environmental sustainability…
A Greener Operating Room
As your stretcher is wheeled into a hospital operating room (OR) and you stare up at the bright surgical lights, you are likely thinking about your impending surgery, not if those lights have LED bulbs or if the anesthetic gas you are about to…
Montefiore Health System cuts energy use with sustainable initiatives
Challenge
Control Montefiore Health System and Medical Centers energy budget while increasing ROI through low-risk and diverse strategies and initiatives.
What Makes Montefiore Health System different from other hospitals and…
Special Report: Building the Business Case for More Sustainable Hospitals
By Keith Sutter, Director of Medical Device Sustainability, Johnson & Johnson
Support for sustainability among health care professionals is significant. A recent global Harris Poll survey commissioned by Johnson & Johnson found…
The future of hospital food
January 08, 2015 | by Sean Ruck , Editor-In-Chief
Janet Howard is the director of the Healthier Hospitals…
Gundersen installs medication disposal containers for public drop off
Gundersen Health System is building upon its successful pharmaceutical waste collection program with separate medication disposal containers for public use.
Gundersen is providing three medication drop boxes for patient, visitor and…
Environmental Sustainability and the Triple Aim
Blog by Blair Sadler, Esq., Senior Fellow, Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Now is the time to make environmental sustainability part of your quality improvement work.
Years ago when I was a hospital CEO, I didn't have…
Hospital’s ‘Green Team’ cuts waste and expense
Hospital’s ‘Green Team’ cuts waste and expense
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 2:24 PM By E. A. Barrera/Special to the Index-Tribune
Realizing that medical waste can really add up – both in garbage and dollars – Sonoma Valley Hospital…
Rethinking Environmentally Preferred Purchasing: A Case Study in Implementation at Kaiser Permanente
By Vanessa Lochner, Kaiser Permanente's director for the Environmentally Preferred Purchasing program
Achieving an environmentally preferable purchasing program is simpler than many people realize. From the start, it’s important to…
The business case for sustainability in surgery
Moyle, Julie K. MSN, RN; Lynn, Cecilia DeLoach MBA, LEED AP
Author Information
Julie K. Moyle is the Founder of 1x1 Consulting and a Staff Nurse at Avista Surgery Center, Boulder, Colo. Cecilia DeLoach Lynn is the Director…
Promoting Sustainable Health Care
By Gary Cohen, president and founder of Health Care Without Harm
Imagine energy efficient hospitals that save money on energy bills to use for critical patient care, and that promote renewable energy…
Practice Greenhealth Honors Environmental Excellence Awards Winners
2013 Award Winners Announced
(Reston, Va.)— Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading membership association devoted to environmentally responsible health care, has announced its 2013 Environmental Excellence Award winners. These coveted…
Poco a Poco – Sharing Jaibon, Dominican Republic – Janet Brown
Two weeks ago, my daughter Franni and I (along with two other moms and their 8th grade girls) embarked on a volunteer trip to Jaibon, Dominican Republic through a not for profit— Outreach 360. We spent the week teaching English to children aged…
Member Spotlight: Advocate Health Care’s Environmental Stewardship
Advocate Health Care has made a commitment to delivering sustainable health care through conservation of resources, preservation of environmental health, and waste minimization. By building a culture of stewardship where each of our associates…
Physician Leadership Critical to Greening the OR Initiative
By Jodi Sherman, MD, Guest Blogger -
In the operating room, the stakes are high and moments count. Great measures are taken to prevent bad outcomes. At the same time, the most recent and conservative Practice Greenhealth estimate places…
The greening of health care
By Mark Sanchez Business Review West Michigan
Accounting for 18 percent of the GDP in America and holding enormous purchasing power, health care is in a position to drive sustainability to new heights, Gary Cohen believes. From energy…
Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth honor environmental health heroes
RELEASE May 9, 2019
Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth honor environmental health heroes
Every year Health Care Without Harm honors an individual with the…
CleanMed Connect is almost here. Don't miss out.
For the past 20 years, we have been meeting in person at hotels and conference centers across the country. But on May 18-20, we will come together virtually for a brand new CleanMed experience.
Learn more and register at …
Announcing the 2019 winner of the Health Care Culinary Contest
The 2019 Health Care Culinary Contest challenged hospital chefs to create and serve a tantalizing new meal that celebrated the power of plants. Hospital chefs from across the country answered the call.
Health Care Without Harm and…
New toolkit helps hospitals track emissions to protect health, reduce costs
Our communities once again experienced the health impacts of climate change in 2018, including increases in heat-related illness, asthma and respiratory illness, as well as injuries and premature deaths from extreme weather events such…
Health care industry must adopt ‘circular mindset’
The circular economy model is a new way of looking at the relationships among markets, customers, and natural resources. This concept means moving away from the traditional “take-make dispose” economic model to one that is regenerative by design…
Health Care Emissions Impact Calculator to be released
Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth plan to release a free, first-of-its-kind calculator to help health care organizations measure their…
Join Practice Greenhealth
Practice Greenhealth is the health care sector’s go-to source for information, tools, data, resources, and expert technical support on sustainability initiatives that help hospitals and health systems meet their health, financial, and community goals.
Who We Are
Practice Greenhealth is the leading sustainable health care organization, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,500 hospitals and health systems in the United States and Canada. Partnership opportunities include hospitals, health systems, community health organizations, NGOs, nonprofits, government, academic institutions, and the health care value chain.