Inova Health System Hospitals Earn National Award for Environmental Achievement

Inova Receives ‘Partner for Change’ Award from Practice Greenhealth

Falls Church, VA – (May 20, 2010) – All five of Inova Health System’s hospitals were presented with the  “Partner for Change Award” from Practice Greenhealth, a national membership organization for healthcare facilities committed to environmentally responsible operations.

Inova Alexandria, Inova Fairfax, Inova Fair Oaks, Inova Loudoun and Inova Mount Vernon hospitals were recognized for continuously improving and expanding upon their mercury elimination, waste reduction, and pollution prevention programs.

“We are so pleased to have our accomplishments recognized at a national level,” said Seema Wadhwa, Sustainability Engineer, Inova Health System. “Inova is committed to reducing its environmental impact and we are continually monitoring our progress to improve our performance. Receiving this award is confirmation that we are on the right track.”

Facilities applying for this award must be recycling at least 10 percent of their total waste, have a mercury elimination program in place with a plan for total elimination, and have developed other successful pollution prevention programs. The award is one of the organization’s seven Environmental Excellence Awards given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the healthcare sector.

“The Environmental Excellence Awards recognize success stories,” said Bob Jarboe, Executive Director, Practice Greenhealth. “Inova Health System is a successful model of how health facilities can develop and implement pollution prevention programs to greatly improve the health of their patients, staff and community.”

The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards were presented May 13 in Baltimore, MD, in conjunction with CleanMed 2010, a global conference for environmental leaders in healthcare.

Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Members include hospitals, healthcare systems, businesses and other stakeholders engaged in the greening of healthcare to improve the health of patients, staff and the environment.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.