Recognition
UCLA Health has been recognized as a leader in education, research, patient health, and sustainable practices, among other achievements. The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards are the nation’s premier recognition program for environmental performance in the health care sector. The awards program recognizes health care facilities and health systems for their commitment to environmental stewardship and their sustainability achievements. They also provide health systems with the opportunity to compare and benchmark their progress against other leading healthcare organizations.
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center received the most prestigious achievement for excellence in sustainability and is ranked as one of the Top 25 hospitals in the country by Practice Greenhealth. Our recognition highlighted our nationally-recognized reusable isolation gowns program, and our shift to all-electric busses to transport patients, staff, and medical materials throughout the health system which drastically reduces emissions and fuel costs.
Our Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center received Practice Greenhealth’s Emerald Award, which is the level achieved just below the Top 25. The award included recognition of our hospitals purchase of 100% renewable energy through the Clean Power Alliance, our expansion of our Greening the OR program, and drought tolerant landscape updates.
Our Planning, Design, and Construction team received recognition as being one of the top programs in the country to ensure our patients receive care in built environments that meet LEED requirements for all major new builds or renovations. Their achievements include energy and water efficiency, using materials without chemicals of concern, regional sourcing, integration of nature and other mechanisms to create high-performance healing environments.
Our Greening the OR committee was recognized for leadership in implementation and innovation in our surgical suites. Our programs focus on waste minimization, clinical plastic recycling, reformulation of operating room kits, single-use device reprocessing, use of reusable sterilization cases, and a range of other programs and associated metrics.
Our sustainability office recognizes outstanding leadership from a staff member each year. In 2021, Erik Eggins received the award for his support in the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) office and incorporating sustainability into the environment of care rounds. Additionally, he established a “kick butts” campaign, which is a partnership between sustainability and EHS where volunteer staff pick up cigarette butts and trash throughout our exterior hospital grounds on Earth Day.