Advocate Aurora Health earns national honors for environmental stewardship
Downers Grove, IL and Milwaukee, WI – Advocate Aurora Health has been awarded the System for Change Award from Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care.
The award recognizes health systems that are setting and meeting system-wide sustainability goals, tracking data, benchmarking and sharing environmental performance successes.
“This honor is a direct reflection of our team members’ commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, which we know helps save lives,” said Bill Santulli, chief operating officer of Advocate Aurora Health. “Leaders and front-line staff across our organization have worked for many years to shape a culture of conservation and innovation that improves the health of our communities through safer environmental practices. We are grateful for this recognition and for all those who helped earn it, through green building, reduced energy consumption, recycling and responsible sourcing, among other efforts.”
In January, Advocate Aurora Health pledged to power its health care operations with 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030.
“Delivering the highest quality care to our patients and communities is deeply intertwined with the health of the environment,” said Mary Larsen, director of environmental affairs and sustainability for Advocate Aurora Health. “Reducing our environmental footprint and contributing to a healthier environment is crucial to helping people live well now and for generations to come.”
In addition to the System for Change Award, every eligible acute care hospital earned individual honors for their green efforts.
Greenhealth Emerald Award
The award is earned by hospitals that have demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability and shown leadership in the local community and in the health care sector. They are setting the standard in eliminating mercury, reducing and recycling waste, sustainable sourcing and other areas.
- Advocate BroMenn Medical Center
- Advocate Christ Medical Center
- Advocate Condell Medical Center
- Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
- Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
- Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
- Advocate Sherman Hospital
Partner for Change
The award is presented to hospitals that continuously improve waste reduction and recycling programs. Winning facilities must demonstrate successful recycling programs, that they have reduced regulated medical waste, are on track to eliminate mercury and have developed successful sustainability programs in many areas.
- Advocate Eureka Hospital
- Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
- Advocate South Suburban Hospital
- Advocate Trinity Hospital
- Aurora BayCare Medical Center
- Aurora Lakeland Medical Center
- Aurora Medical Center in Burlington
- Aurora Medical Center in Grafton
- Aurora Medical Center Kenosha
- Aurora Medical Center in Manitowoc County
- Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh
- Aurora Medical Center in Summit
- Aurora Medical Center in Washington County
- Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center
- Aurora Sinai Medical Center
- Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center
- Aurora St. Luke’s South Shore
- Aurora West Allis Medical Center
“As more and more hospitals embed sustainability into their operations, the bar for environmental excellence increases every year,” said Gary Cohen, president of Practice Greenhealth. “Advocate Aurora Health demonstrates the kind of leadership, innovation and performance that can drive the entire health sector toward more environmentally responsible practices.”
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About Advocate Aurora Health
Advocate Aurora Health is among the largest non-profit, integrated health system in the United States and a leading employer in the Midwest with more than 70,000 employees, including more than 22,000 nurses and the region’s largest employed medical staff and home health organization. A national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience, and value-based care, the system serves nearly 3 million patients annually in Illinois and Wisconsin across more than 500 sites of care. Advocate Aurora is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies and is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, and pediatrics. The organization also contributed $2 billion in charitable care and services to its communities in 2016.
