Providence Alaska recognized for superior performance in environmental sustainability

Hospitals in Anchorage, Kodiak honored for progress toward carbon-negative goal 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care, has recognized Providence Alaska Medical Center and Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center for exemplary environmental stewardship.

Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage — the state’s largest hospital — received the Greenhealth Partner for Change Award, which recognizes superior performance in environmental sustainability, covering a range of different sustainability programs and activities.

Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center earned the Partner Recognition Award, which recognizes facilities that have a commitment to environmental improvements and have achieved progress in several areas of the organization.

This work is part of a Providence system-wide goal to be carbon-negative by 2030. Practice Greenhealth recognized 29 Providence and affiliated ministries for their environmental stewardship, including health care facilities in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana, California, Texas and New Mexico.

“At Providence, we know environmental sustainability is essential to providing better care for our patients, our communities and our planet,” said Preston M. Simmons, DSc., FACHE, chief executive of Providence Alaska. “We continue to make great strides toward reducing our impact on the environment, and we are committed to doing even more.”

This is the third consecutive year Providence Alaska Medical Center has been recognized. In 2021, the hospital earned the Environmental Excellence Award and in 2020 earned the Greenhealth Partner for Change Award and Greening the Operating Room Award, the latter of which honors facilities that have made substantial progress in reducing the impact of the surgical environment.

Hospitals are recognized for demonstrating a commitment to address sustainability of facility operations and how that work impacts the environment. Strategies to address sustainability include minimizing and recycling waste, addressing chemicals of concern, lowering energy and water consumption, sourcing food and products sustainably and establishing environmentally preferable purchasing criteria.

“In a shifting health care landscape, a focus on sustainability can help build resilience while better protecting the health of patients and the community,” said Gary Cohen, Practice Greenhealth founder. “Providence Alaska Medical Center and Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center demonstrate the kind of leadership, innovation and performance that can drive the entire health sector toward more environmentally responsible practices.”

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Providence Alaska is part of Providence, a not-for-profit network of hospitals, care centers, health plans, physicians, clinics, home health services, affiliated services and educational facilities. For more information about Providence Alaska, visit providence.org/about/alaska.  

Practice Greenhealth is the leading membership and networking organization for sustainable health care, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,100 U.S. hospitals and health systems. For more information, visit practicegreenhealth.org/.