Midwest Hospital Recognized for Green Initiatives

Wisconsin Governor recognizes Sacred Heart Hospital’s environmental leadership

EAU CLAIRE, Wis., July 17 /PRNewswire/ — Many hospitals are taking steps to be environmentally friendly, but Sacred Heart Hospital (SHH) continues to lead by example to do what is best for the environment. Recently, SHH was one of only six hospitals nationwide to be awarded the Practice Greenhealth Environmental Leadership Award (ELA) for their innovative programs that set industry standards for waste reduction and pollution prevention.

“Sacred Heart Hospital is at the forefront of the trend toward a healthcare system that recognizes the fundamental link between healthy people and a healthy environment,” said Bob Jarboe, Executive Director, Practice Greenhealth. “Our vision of a truly healthy healthcare system is steadily becoming a reality, in part because of the remarkable achievements of organizations like Sacred Heart Hospital.”

In addition, the hospital has been recognized by the Governor of Wisconsin for its green initiatives. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle chose SHH as the location to announce “Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin” statewide grants to help local economies. The new state-funded program encourages organizations to purchase food from local farmers and growers. The program’s goal is to stimulate Wisconsin’s agricultural economy by increasing the purchasing of the state’s grown and produced food by local food buyers while encouraging local economic investment.

One of the “Buy Local” grants will be given to River Country Resource Conservation and Development Council, a non-profit organization partnering with SHH to develop a “buy local” consortium managed by River Country. SHH has committed 10 percent of its $2 million annual food budget to purchasing local food.

“Through an overall policy of reducing, recycling and reusing, Sacred Heart Hospital’s Green Team initiative seeks to protect the environment, preserve our natural resources and reduce energy consumption in concert with our Franciscan tradition to respect creation, safeguard its people and practice good stewardship,” said Rick Beckler, Director of Hospitality Services and Chair of the hospital’s Green Team.

Sacred Heart also participates in the Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach Partners in Recycling Program, a medical surplus recovery and redistribution program that addresses the medical needs of people throughout the world. During the past two years, SHH has contributed more than 37,000 pounds of medical equipment and related items valued at nearly $215,000. The items have been used in hospitals and healthcare facilities in Mongolia, Ukraine, Morocco and Haiti.

“We have a deep Franciscan commitment to environmental stewardship that consistently goes beyond basic state and federal regulatory waste management requirements,” said Marge McFarlane, Safety Coordinator and Green Team member. “It’s a win-win. Our application for the Practice Greenhealth award demonstrated that being green saves green dollars and helps others in need.”

Only six hospitals in the nation were inducted into Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Leadership Circle — an honor that recognizes hospitals in the vanguard of environmental progress in healthcare. The Environmental Leadership Circle is an elite group of facilities that have integrated sustainable environmental programs into their values. The award demonstrates that SHH is considered to be among the best in the country at creating a healthy environment for patients, employees, physicians and the community as a whole.

Other hospitals that received the Practice Greenhealth ELA award include the Northern Michigan Regional Hospital (Petoskey, MI), Providence Milwaukie Hospital (Milwaukie, OR), Providence Portland Medical Center (Portland, OR), Providence St. Vincent Medical Center (Portland, OR) and Sequoia Hospital (Redwood City, CA).

About Sacred Heart Hospital

Sacred Heart Hospital is an affiliate of the Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1889 it has been meeting patient needs in western Wisconsin with the latest medical innovations and technology, together with a Franciscan whole-person healing tradition.

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Emily Barry
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Source: Sacred Heart Hospital