St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor was recognized this month by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) for its sustainability efforts and commitment to reducing its ecological footprint.
Pierre Gonyon, system environmental safety and health leader at St. Joe’s Ann Arbor, and Rob Casalou, regional president and CEO of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, accepted the Michigan Green Healthcare Award at MHA’s Michigan Green Healthcare Conference held Oct. 4 and 5 in Lansing.
“I’m very proud of our team at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor for what they’ve accomplished in the area of environmental stewardship,” said Casalou. “They’ve been a leader in this area for a long time, and this is recognition for an enormous amount of work done by many different people. We in health care need to impress sustainability as a core value and expand these practices and protocols, such as choosing to purchase green products across the region so that they become standard in terms of business operations.”
St. Joe’s Ann Arbor embarked on a major campaign in 2003 to decrease its use of natural gas, electricity and water/sewer commodities both for environmental improvements and cost savings that could be reallocated toward patient care. Between 2004 and 2016, these combined efforts resulted in a 21 percent decrease in electricity use; 31 percent decrease in natural gas use and a 55 percent decrease in sewer/water use. In 2016 alone, the hospital recycled over 1.13 million pounds of materials including paper, cardboard, plastics and metals.
St. Joe’s is also an active member of several community groups that address environmental issues. It currently serves as Vice Chair on the county Solid Waste Planning Committee, is a Charter Member of the Waste Knot Program, and has served on the Washtenaw County Consortium for solid Waste Management for more than 20 years. In addition, the hospital has conducted a community mercury thermometer exchange program and helped develop and implement a community Sharps Return Program, participates in the county Rx waste return program and has worked on projects with the Huron River Watershed Council.
St. Joe’s was a longtime member and chaired the MHA-sponsored Michigan Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (MH2E) and is a current member of the Michigan Green Healthcare Committee.
The Farm at St. Joe’s takes a people-centered approach to improve access to fresh food, nutrition education, and therapy. In fiscal year 2016, the Farm hosted 1,071 students who participated in educational summer camps and field trips. The Farm regularly hosts patients with traumatic brain injury at its accessible hoop house, where patients receive agritherapy and work-life training. Through its partnership with a local farmer who grows 23 acres of hay for the Farm, St. Joe’s has been able to reduce grounds maintenance costs as well as carbon emissions from mowing and fertilizing.
Click here to read more about the MHA’s Green Healthcare Conference. Become more effective in waste management with Commercial Roll Off Dumpster Rentals.
