Sacred Heart - Inspiring Health

10 R E P O R T TO O U R CO M M U N I T Y 2 0 1 3 From Patient to Planet Care SACRED HEART HOSPITAL'S ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES HELP MAKE THE HOSPITAL—AND THE PLANET—CLEANER, SAFER, AND HEALTHIER FOR EVERYONE. IN FEBRUARY 2012, Sacred Heart embarked on a major renovation project as part of its efforts to enhance patient comfort. The hospital's Sustainability Team, a group tasked with developing environmentally sound practices throughout the facility, saw the renovation as an opportunity to conserve precious resources at the same time. Some of the eco-friendly changes include updated plumbing fixtures, lighting controls, and heating and cooling systems that help curb the waste of water and electricity. The most extensive alteration was replacing all windows installed when the hospital was built in 1964 with modern, energyefficient models. A Green Leader Sacred Heart Hospital was recently presented with the prestigious Environmental Leadership Circle award by Practice Greenhealth, a nonprofit organization that helps healthcare institutions improve environmental stewardship. The Leadership Circle recognizes Sacred Heart's excellence and high standards in sustainable practices. This marks the fourth year in a row Sacred Heart has won the award. In addition, Sacred Heart was included among Becker's Hospital Review's "50 Greenest Hospitals in the U.S." in 2013. "The new windows will protect against drafts and better control the passage of warm and cool air into and out of the building," says Shanna Miller, Director of Environmental Services at Sacred Heart. "This promotes low energy usage and reduces the hospital's carbon footprint—or the total impact of the institution on the environment." CONTROLLING WASTE The Sacred Heart Sustainability Team is also working to reduce hospital waste and recycle as much waste as possible. "Our single-stream recycling program separates trash from recyclable material so it can be processed and reused," Miller says. "This program has already reduced our landfill waste substantially." In addition to paper, plastic, and metal, Sacred Heart also recycles medical materials. Through a unique arrangement with Eau Claire Moving and Storage, the hospital recycles 62 pounds of sterile blue wraps used on operating room instruments each week. The wraps are collected and reused in the company's moving operation. Also, single-use medical devices that were once thrown away are now saved and remanufactured by > Stryker Sustainability Solutions. In one year, Sacred Heart has kept more than 6,000 pounds of medical device waste out of landfills. A TEAM EFFORT Sacred Heart's commitment to sustainable practices is consistent with its mission to create a comfortable, healing setting for patients and promote health and wellness in the entire community. "Part of wellness is having a safe, clean home and work environment," says Stacey Powell, RN, BSN, CNOR, Clinical Education Specialist at Sacred Heart and Operating Room Leader of the Sustainability Team. "We've made great progress, but we cannot make our community eco-friendly alone. Every little thing you can do helps." So the next time there are empty soda bottles or plastic cups left over after an office birthday party, make the effort to place them in a recycling bin, even if that means taking them home—your children may one day thank you. "These green initiatives are about making sure future generations can enjoy this planet," Miller says. "We are all in this together." To learn more about Sacred Heart's efforts to make Eau Claire greener, visit sacredhearteauclaire.org and search "Greenhealth."

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