By the UC Health Newsroom
UC academic health centers were honored in the 2024 Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards, which recognize health systems, hospitals and health care facilities for their commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability achievements.
Collectively, UC Health academic health centers received 30 awards from Practice Greenhealth, a testament to how high-quality, life-changing patient care can go hand-in-hand with environmental sustainability.
Two UC Health academic health centers– UC Davis Health and UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica – were recognized with the highest honor from Practice Greenhealth: the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award. The recognition is awarded to hospitals who are “leading the industry in all-around sustainability performance… illustrating how sustainability is entrenched in their organizational culture.”
UC academic health centers were also honored with Circles of Excellence awards, which recognize the top ten hospitals nationwide in each sustainability category. Categories include water use, food service, decreased carbon emissions, safer chemical strategies, sustainable procurement, zero emissions transportation, leadership and energy efficiency.
“As a public, safety-net health system, UC Health recognizes the importance of reducing our environmental impact to help advance community health and limit the harmful effects of changing climates. We are proud to see the UC academic health centers receive this Practice Greenhealth recognition and applaud the dedication and commitment of the many individuals who have contributed to these results,” said Zoanne Nelson, UC Health associate vice president.
UC Health academic health center sustainability awardees
- UC Davis Health won the Top 25 Award, as well as the Greening the Operating Room Recognition Award and Circle of Excellence awards in green building, sustainable procurement and water.
- UCI Health received the Greenhealth Emerald Award, Greening the Operating Room Recognition Award, and Circle of Excellence awards in climate and energy.
- UCLA Health
- UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, received the Top 25 Award, the Greening the Operating Room Recognition Award, and Circle of Excellence chemicals, climate, and transportation awards.
- UCLA Health Ronald Reagan University Medical Center, was honored with the Greenhealth Emerald Award and the Circles of Excellence chemicals, climate, greening the operating room and transportation awards.
- UC San Diego Health received a Greenhealth Emerald Award, Greening the Operating Room Recognition Award, and Circle of Excellence awards for green building, food, leadership, sustainable procurement and transportation.
- UCSF Health received the Greenhealth Emerald Award, Greening the Operating Room Recognition Award, and Circle of Excellence Climate Award.
About the Awards
These awards are part of Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards given annually to honor health care’s achievements in sustainability.
- The Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award is Practice Greenhealth’s highest honor for hospitals. These hospitals are leading the industry with innovation in sustainability, demonstrating superior programs, and illustrating how sustainability is a core part of their culture.
- The Circle of Excellence Awards go to the top 10 hospitals in various sustainability categories. These hospitals have not only earned an award for overall sustainability achievement but have also been identified as the top scoring programs within each category of sustainability.
- The Greenhealth Emerald Award recognizes outstanding hospitals from within the Partner for Change applicants. This competitive award recognizes the top 20 percent of applicants and is focused on advanced sustainability programs and exemplary scores in a range of categories.
- The Greening the Operating Room Recognition Award honors facilities that have made substantial progress in reducing the impact of the surgical operating room environment.
Practice Greenhealth is the leading membership and networking organization for sustainable health care, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,100 U.S. hospitals and health systems.