Fletcher Allen Health Care has received a “Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award” from Practice Greenhealth, (PGH) a leading national association devoted to environmentally responsible health care. This is the 5th year in a row Fletcher Allen has been selected by PGH for its top award, which recognizes health care facilities that set the highest standards for environmental practices. Special recognition was given this year to waste prevention and handling, sustainable food service, and leadership.
Vermont’s academic medical center has implemented dozens ofinitiatives in the past 20 years from using “green” cleaning products to composting to recycling.
2013 highlights include:
- Increased recycling to more than 50% of the waste stream, compared to an estimated 35% at other top green hospitals.
- Reduced electricity use by more than 1 million kWh, enough to supply 144 Vermont homes for a year
- Spent nearly 60% of the total food budget on local or sustainably produced items - more than 4 times the average for U.S. hospitals.
- Pioneered recycling of sterile wrapping for operating room supplies
“We’re very proud that our commitment to continuously improve our green performance is being recognized again by Practice Greenhealth,” said Wes Pooler, director of Facilities Management. “This is the result of taking small steps every day to be the most environmentally responsible organization possible, and the credit goes to our leaders and employees who enthusiastically embrace this mission,” he added.
Monique Citro, OR Equipment Specialist and Wes Pooler, Director of Facilities Management, accepting the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award from Practice Greenhealth
“This award recognizes Fletcher Allen’s leading role as an innovator in sustainability and their deep commitment to doing right by their patients and community,” said Laura Wenger, RN, Executive Director of Practice Greenhealth.
About Practice Greenhealth
Practice Greenhealth is the source for environmental solutions for the healthcare sector and lends support to create better, safer, greener workplaces and communities. Practice Greenhealth is a nonprofit membership organization founded on the principles of positive environmental stewardship and best practices by organizations in the healthcare community. Visit https://practicegreenhealth.org for more information.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Fletcher Allen, along with Central Vermont Medical Center, CVPH Medical Center and Elizabethtown Community Hospital, are members of Fletcher Allen Partners, established to develop a more coordinated system of care throughout the region. Fletcher Allen also serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about Fletcher Allen, find us online at http://www.fletcherallen.org or on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blog sites at www.fletcherallen.org/socialmedia.
For more on Fletcher Allen’s sustainable food program read this blog from Nutrition Services Director Diane Imrie.
Fletcher Allen’s innovative Operating Room recycling program is detailed in this podcast
with Monique Citro, OR Equipment Specialist. (scroll to bottom of page and look for “What is Blue Wrap” heading)
Source: Fletcher Allen 7.17.2014