Dignity Health Central Coast Hospitals Receive Environmental Excellence Award for Sustainability during Pandemic

CENTRAL COAST, CA – July 27, 2021 – Practice Greenhealth is excited to announce the recipients of this year's Environmental Excellence Awards, recognizing health care facilities across the country that have maintained and strengthened their commitment to sustainability amidst a pandemic, and Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, French Hospital Medical Center, and Marian Regional Medical Center have been recognized. Health care institutions have found innovative ways to make progress on reducing their environmental impacts while facing unique challenges in the past year. These facilities recognize the intrinsic link between environment, climate, and health, and are working to lead by example.

"During a year that has been incredibly challenging for our staff, this award serves as a testament to our continued commitment to sustainable operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” says Alan Iftiniuk, President and CEO, French Hospital Medical Center.

Hospitals reported achievement across 11 different areas of sustainability through the annual Environmental Excellence Awards program – while highlighting their collaborations with the community, their investments in resilience, and their resolve to address issues of racial equity and health disparities.

“Our entire health care team shares this outstanding achievement, which demonstrates their remarkable dedication to our environment, even during the COVID-19 pandemic," says Sue Andersen, President and CEO, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and Marian Regional Medical Center. 

Health care institutions have increasingly made formal commitments to address climate change, are engaging staff in supporting their sustainability programs, are working to avoid chemicals of concern in purchasing, are continuing to invest in energy-smart solutions, and are showing leadership in their local communities.

“Despite immense challenges, the health care sector has continued to step up to the challenge of addressing environmental factors that impact health,” said Gary Cohen, Practice Greenhealth founder and president. “These hospitals are demonstrating that smarter, more sustainable operations and values-driven purchasing can transform a sector while moving toward a more expansive definition of health.”

Winners range in size from large, urban, academic medical centers to rural critical access hospitals – but each facility is addressing the links between the environment and human health – and have programs and data to demonstrate their successes.

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About Dignity Health Central Coast 
Dignity Health Central Coast is comprised of award-winning hospitals, all recognized for their quality of care, safety and service, primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically advanced imaging centers, outpatient services, and comprehensive home health services. Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to provide additional funding to support new programs and services, as well as to advance the community’s access to health care. For more information, visit dignityhealth.org/centralcoast.

About Practice Greenhealth
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.

Learn more about all of the Environmental Excellence Award winners.