News Information

SCHNECK WINS NATIONAL PARTNER FOR CHANGE AWARD
May 7, 2012

Schneck Medical Center has been honored with the 2012 Partner for Change Award from Practice Greenhealth, a national membership organization for healthcare facilities committed to environmentally responsible operations. Schneck is the only healthcare organization in Indiana to receive the award.

The Partner for Change award is one of the organization’s Environmental Excellence Awards given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the healthcare sector. Practice Greenhealth announced the winners at the 2012 Environmental Excellence Awards banquet on May 2 at CleanMed, the global conference of healthcare environmental leaders, in Denver, Colorado.

This is the second year that Schneck has received an environmental excellence award. In 2011, they were honored with the Partner Recognition Award, also from Practice Greenhealth.

The Partner for Change Award recognizes healthcare facilities that continuously improve and expand upon their mercury elimination, waste reduction, and source reduction programs. At a minimum, facilities applying for this award must be recycling 15 percent of their total waste, are well along the way to mercury elimination, and have developed other successful pollution prevention programs in many different areas.

“This award demonstrates Schneck Medical Center’s commitment to their patients and community to protect public health and preserve the environment,” said Laura Wenger, RN, Executive Director, Practice Greenhealth. “Schneck is truly demonstrating leadership for the future of healthcare.”

Since 2009, Schneck has recycled over 2.5 million pounds of waste, cardboard, glass, plastic, cans, paper, and cooking oil; reduced paper usage by 31%; recycled all fluorescent light bulbs; reduced foam cup usage by 68%; and, made a significant reduction in demand for natural gas.

“We are pleased to be recognized for this significant achievement,” said Andy Hagedorn, Director of Facilities at Schneck. “We are proud to be a model of how health facilities develop and implement programs to improve the health of our patients, staff, and community.”

The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards were presented in Denver, Colorado, at CleanMed, THE premier national environmental conference for leaders in health care sustainability.

Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Members include hospitals, healthcare systems, businesses, and other stakeholders engaged in the greening of healthcare to improve the health of patients, staff, and the environment. Practice Greenhealth is a source of environmental solutions for the healthcare sector. For more information on Practice Greenhealth, visit www.practicegreenhealth.org.