Inova Receives Practice Greenhealth Environmental Awards, Named to Leadership Circle of Excellence

Practice Greenhealth-Excellence-LogoAward Winner Honored as a Leader in Environmental Sustainability

(FALLS CHURCH, VA) – June 9, 2014 – Inova Health System has been awarded the prominent Greenhealth Emerald Award by Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading healthcare community focused on increasing efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety. Four Inova hospitals received this honor, while another was recognized as a Partner for Change in these efforts.

Inova has also been named to Practice Greenhealth’s new Leadership Circle of Excellence, which highlights those hospitals that are driving innovation in sustainability performance. There can be up to 10 designees selected for each Circle of Excellence category, and four of Inova’s hospitals were identified for the Leadership Circle. The winning facilities in each category are selected based on Practice Greenhealth’s thorough scoring and evaluation criteria.

“Inova is proud and honored to receive such distinguished recognition for our environmental sustainability program,” says CEO Knox Singleton. “Our core mission and purpose is to improve health and to make the community a healthier place. Environmental and human health are very closely connected, which puts sustainability right at the heart of what we do. It is a key strategy in achieving our goals of maximizing the health of – and being a good partner to – our patients, employees and community. Being a good citizen is not just the right thing to do, but for Inova and our community it’s the smart thing as well.”

Inova’s environmental program covers operational impacts including waste, energy, water, purchasing, food, transportation, building and IT. Some of the program’s 2013 achievements that led to the awards include:

  • Recycled our three millionth pound of materials since starting the program in 2008
  • Purchased 11,659 EPEAT-rated electronics, spending over $4.4 million on greener desktop electronics that contain less toxic ingredients, consume less energy, and are safer to dispose Reduced paper usage by 293,000 pounds through the implementation of electronic medical records system
  • Recycled over 100,000 pounds of electronics via certified electronics recyclers, responsibly disposing of components containing toxins and other harmful chemicals
  • Used over 90 percent Green Seal Certified cleaning chemicals, positively affecting indoor air quality for patients and employees
  • Spent more than $170,000 on local/sustainable foods, including chicken and turkey produced with reduced antibiotics, rBGH-free milk and yogurt products, cage-free shell eggs, produce grown within 250 miles, Fair Trade Certified coffee and teas, and Marine Stewardship Council Certified seafood
  • Mentored peer organizations locally and nationally on sustainability efforts, helping them create safer environments for their own patients, employees and communities

The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards were presented in Cleveland, Ohio, June 5, at the CleanMed Conference & Exhibition, the premier national environmental conference for leaders in health care sustainability.

 

Media Contact: Seema Wadhwa, (703) 776-2723

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About Practice Greenhealth:
Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading health care community that empowers its members to increase their efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care through tools, best practices and knowledge. To learn more about Practice Greenhealth visit www.practicegreenhealth.org.

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