Medical Construction & Design

Embracing sustainability has tangible financial rewards and creates jobs, according to a new report by the Health Care Research Collaborative.

The report, “Creating a Culture of Sustainability: Leadership, Coordination and Performance Measurement Systems in Healthcare, was conducted by the Health Care Research Collaborative," a collaboration of Health Care Without Harm and the Healthier Hospitals Initiative.

The report was sponsored by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. Report author Tonya Boone, Ph.D., found three elements that are key to a successful program:

1. There must be an executive champion or advocate.
2. Sustainability values must be reflected in the organization’s mission, vision or values.
3. Performance measurement systems must be used to monitor and track sustainability activities.

“The report found that leadership engagement and incorporation of sustainability as a high-level goal were key to the success of the program,” said Dr. Boone. “We also found that jobs are being created as health systems are finding that sustainability efforts need dedicated staff who are responsible for it. And the good news is that the cost savings inherent in sustainability help pay for these staff members as well as to make investments in other hospital programs."

View the report at http://www.noharm.org/lib/downloads/other/Creating_a_Culture_of_Sustainability.pdf.