HCA Gets Eco-friendly

Jarboe says 2009 may represent the tipping point for the sustainability movement in the healthcare sector, which has assumed a leadership role in the broader ecology of the planet.

"Historically, the healthcare sector has been one of the largest consumers of energy and water and generates tons of solid and medical waste," Jarboe says. "Practice Greenhealth members are turning the tide on this history, however, with growing evidence that greener facilities improve patient outcomes, decrease lengths of stay, and improve the health and performance of healthcare workers, while saving money and minimizing liability and compliance risks."

HCA facilities include 163 hospitals and 112 outpatient centers in 20 states and England. With the addition of HCA, Practice Greenhealth membership now exceeds 1,000 organizations. Members include individual hospitals, healthcare systems, and businesses in the healthcare sector.