Spectrum Health United and Kelsey Hospitals Named Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change

Formally Acknowledged for Environmentally Preferable Practices

Spectrum Health United Hospital and Kelsey Hospital were awarded the 2014 “Greenhealth Partner for Change” Award by Practice Greenhealth, 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.

The award is one of the organization’s Environmental Excellence Awards given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the health care sector.

The Greenhealth Partner for Change Award recognizes health care facilities that continuously improve and expand upon their mercury elimination, waste reduction, recycling and source reduction programs. At a minimum, facilities applying for this award must be recycling 15 percent of their total waste, have reduced regulated medical waste, are well along the way to mercury elimination and have developed other successful pollution prevention programs in many different areas.

United and Kelsey Hospitals achievements over the last year include:

Recycling over 91 tons of paper, plastic, metal and glass
Operating rooms recycled and reprocessed 3,500 pounds of waste and utilize reusable equipment and totes when possible
New boilers which have reduced energy consumption by approximately 30 percent
Employee green team educates employees on ways to go green and celebrate our success
Investing in energy efficiency programs

As vice president of finance for Spectrum Health United and Kelsey Hospitals, Ryan Johnson also oversees sustainability efforts across the two hospitals. “Spectrum Health’s commitment to improving human health, protecting the environment and practicing fiscal responsibility is highlighted through this award recognition. We’re proud of our employee champions who care for our patients and the environment.”

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

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system, based in West Michigan, offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of 11 hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; 170 ambulatory and service sites; 1,050 employed physicians and advanced practice providers including members of the Spectrum Health Medical Group; and Priority Health, a 549,000-member health plan. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 21,000 employees. The organization provided $250 million in community benefit during its 2013 fiscal year.