Lakewood Hospital Honored with Partner for Change & Making Medicine Mercury Free Awards

Cleveland Clinic, for the fourth straight year, has been awarded the most prestigious environmental achievement award presented by Practice Greenhealth, a nonprofit organization that provides environmental strategies for the healthcare sector and supports better, safer, greener workplaces and communities. 

“Only the best of the best receive this high honor,” said Practice Greenhealth Executive Director Laura Wenger, RN. “The members of the Environmental Leadership Circle represent the future of sustainability in healthcare, and Cleveland Clinic is no exception.”

The Environmental Leadership Circle recognizes healthcare facilities that exemplify environmental excellence and are setting the highest standards for environmental practices in health care. Award winners are chosen by the Practice Greenhealth Award review team from the top Partner for Change applicants. To be considered, facilities must meet the criteria for the mercury-free award, recycle at least 25 percent of their total waste stream while holding regulated medical waste to 8 percent or less, have implemented numerous other innovative pollution prevention programs, and be leaders in their community.

In addition to the Environmental Leadership award, Cleveland Clinic health system was recognized with the System for Change award, and its community hospitals and family health centers received 25 individual awards for excellence in sustainability across our organization, including three Partner for Change with Distinction awards given to Euclid Hospital, Fairview Hospital and Marymount Hospital. 

Lakewood Hospital received Partner for Change and Making Medicine Mercury Free Awards. The Making Medicine Mercury-Free Award recognizes facilities that have virtually eliminated mercury from their facilities and have made a commitment to continue to be “mercury free.”

As evidenced in a recent Health Care Research Collaborative study, “Can Sustainable Hospitals Help Bend the Health Care Cost Curve?” environmental sustainability measures in hospitals result in significant savings, without increasing operating costs. The implications are clear — given the return on investment, all hospitals should adopt and expand their sustainability programs.  

“Cleveland Clinic supports health environments for healthy communities and we rely on the hard work of our caregivers and green team leaders at every facility to advance our pursuit of environmental excellence,” said Chris Parkinson, Interim Director for Cleveland Clinic’s Office for a Healthy Environment. “We are honored to be recognized for our hard work and leadership.”

For more information on Cleveland Clinic’s energy conservation and sustainability efforts, visit www.clevelandclinic.org/sustainability.

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To learn more about Practice Greenhealth visit www.practicegreenhealth.org.