Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Environmental Achievements Bring Honor for UCLA Health System Hospitals

by Kathy Jones on June 7, 2014 at 8:56 PM
 Environmental Achievements Bring Honor for UCLA Health System Hospitals

The 2014 Partner for Change awards by Practice Greenhealth have been conferred on both Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica.

The former is a nonprofit organization that works with the health care community to increase efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care through the use of best practices and new tools and knowledge.

Advertisement

"The UCLA Health System has worked tirelessly to protect its patients, staff and environment through smart goal-setting and careful monitoring," said Gary Cohen, president of Practice Greenhealth. "As a system, they are truly demonstrating leadership for the future of health care."

The award is one of the organization's Environmental Excellence Awards, given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the health care sector. This is the fourth consecutive year that both UCLA hospitals have received the award.
Advertisement

The Partner for Change award recognizes those facilities that have continuously improved and expanded their programs aimed at eliminating mercury, reducing waste, lowering the toxicity of waste, and recycling. At a minimum, facilities applying for the honor must have reduced regulated medical waste, must be recycling 15 percent of their total waste, must be well along the path toward mercury elimination, and must have developed other successful pollution-prevention programs in a number of areas.

"We take pride in our sustainability efforts to lessen our impact on the environment," said Dr. David Feinberg, president of the UCLA Health System and CEO of the UCLA Hospital System. "Our UCLA Health System hospitals are committed to improving the health of our patients, staff and community as a whole through good stewardship of our precious resources."

This year, both hospitals were also presented with the Making Medicine Mercury-Free Award, which recognizes facilities where proven policies have been put in place to eliminate
one of the most hazardous chemicals and prevent it from reentering the sites. Award criteria include mercury-free management and purchasing policies and staff education.

"We can't properly heal patients when there are pollutants and chemicals present in the health care setting," said Paul Watkins, chief administrative officer of UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, and chair of the UCLA Health System's sustainability committee. "Eliminating mercury in our daily work environment protects both our patients and staff."

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

For more on the UCLA Health System, visit /www.uclahealth.org. For more on Practice Greenhealth, visit www.practicegreenhealth.org.




Source: Newswise
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Environmental Health

Is Climate Change Impacting Brain Function?
The latest study underscores the significant influence that an individual's environment can exert on their brain.
How Soap Help Combat Malaria-Spreading Mosquitos?
The efficiency of pesticides was improved by adding small amounts of liquid soap, that tackles malaria-spreading mosquitos resistant to current pesticides.
Climate Change Drives Bat Expansion and Rabies Risk in the US
A new study links vampire bats' range expansion to climate shifts and potential implications for rabies transmission.
How Rush-Hour Air Pollution Raises Blood Pressure?
There are high amounts of ultrafine particles in unfiltered rush-hour air, which significantly elevates the blood pressure of the passengers.
Coal Particulate Pollution's Death Risk Doubles PM2.5 from Other Sources
Exposure to fine particulate air pollutants, particularly coal-based PM2.5 emanating from power plants, poses more than double the mortality risk
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Environmental Achievements Bring Honor for UCLA Health System Hospitals Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests