Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital Recognized for National Health Care Environmental ‘Partnership’ Award

Recognized for Initiating Environmental Stewardship Program

Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital has received the “Partner Recognition” Award from Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading health care membership community that empowers its members to increase their efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care. The Award is one of the Environmental Excellence Awards given each year to honor environmental achievements in the health care sector.

“This Award applauds organizations that are just beginning their journey in environmental stewardship, said Laura Wenger, RN, Executive Director, Practice Greenhealth. Kelsey Hospital’s commitment to sustainability firmly places them on the path of sustainability for the future of health care.”

The Partner Recognition Award is for health care facilities that have begun to work on environmental improvements, have achieved some progress, and have at least a ten percent recycling rate for their total waste stream.

As evidenced in a recent Health Care Research Collaborative study, “Can Sustainable Hospitals Help Bend the Health Care Cost Curve?” introducing environmental sustainability measures in hospitals not only results in significant savings, it won’t increase operating costs. The implications are clear — given the return on investment, all hospitals should adopt and expand their sustainability programs.

“We are proud to positively impact our environment” said Tina Freese-Decker, President, Spectrum Health United and Kelsey Hospitals. “Our sustainability efforts have enabled Kelsey Hospital to be better stewards of our resources, environment and costs, all in an effort to provide better value and high quality care for our patients.”

The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards were presented in Boston, MA, April 25 at CleanMed, THE premier national environmental conference for leaders in health care sustainability.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; 130 ambulatory and service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling 751 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 600,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 19,100 employees. The organization provided $204 million in community benefit during its 2012 fiscal year.

About Practice Greenhealth
Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the health care community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. For more information on Practice Greenhealth, visit www.practicegreenhealth.org.