Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC Honored for Environmental Leadership
PITTSBURGH, June 10, 2009 – Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s only membership association devoted to environmentally responsible health care, recently honored Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC for its leadership in protecting the environment and patients and educating staff and parents about environmental health.
The only hospital in the region honored among more than 140 facilities nationwide, Magee received both the DEHP-Free Award and the Partner for Change Award. The DEHP-Free Award, presented solely to Magee, recognizes the hospital’s efforts to find safer alternatives for medical devices containing DEHP, a chemical used to soften plastics, which is linked to birth defects and other illnesses. The Partner for Change Award recognizes health care facilities that continuously improve their mercury elimination, waste reduction and pollution prevention programs.
“At Magee-Womens Hospital, we believe that sound environmental practices are simply good medicine for the women, newborns and communities we serve,” said Joyce Lewis, director of advocacy and government affairs. “Magee has a long track record of commitment to environmentally sustainable practices, and we are proud to have these efforts honored by our peers in Practice Greenhealth.”
Under the leadership of its “green team,” a representative group of hospital staff, Magee has pursued a wide variety of award-winning greening initiatives, including nearly eliminating mercury-containing equipment from the hospital, replacing plastic and foam containers with biodegradable products in its food service, implementing a hospital-wide recycling program and using environmentally friendly materials in remodeling projects. Magee also counsels parents about environmental health in prenatal classes and offers an environmental health reference room for staff and families.
Magee’s role as an environmental leader has been recognized and supported by grants from the Heinz Endowments and the Johnson Family Foundation.
Practice Greenhealth is a membership and networking organization for institutions in the health care community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Members include hospitals, health care systems, businesses and others engaged in the greening of health care to improve the health of patients, staff and the environment.
Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is one of a handful of not-for-profit hospitals in the United States dedicated to the care of women and infants. Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Magee serves as the teaching facility for obstetrics, gynecology, gynecological oncology and neonatology for students enrolled in the Schools of Medicine and Nursing, and for allied health professions. Members of Magee’s medical staff hold academic appointments at the University of Pittsburgh and are actively involved in education and research, as well as patient care.
For more information on Magee’s environmental initiatives, click here.