Mason Health wins three awards for sustainability

Mason Health has again demonstrated its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship by winning three awards this year from Practice Greenhealth, a national membership organization for sustainable health care systems.

For the fourth consecutive year, Mason Health earned the Practice Greenhealth Excellence Partner for Change Award, recognizing superior performance in environmental sustainability in programs and services.

For the second year in a row, Mason Health also won the Greening the Operating Room Award. For the first time, Mason Health was recognized with the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award, a one-time award that underscores Mason Health’s dedication to eliminating mercury across the hospital district, for the safety of patients, employees and the community.

“Mason Health is a leader and an example for other critical access, rural hospitals nationwide,” Practice Greenhealth’s Growth and Partner Experience Director Scott Rich said in the news release. “I often point to them as a hospital that is doing the hard work of addressing climate change challenges as they work to ensure a healthy community. It isn’t easy. But, I often say that if a small hospital in rural Washington with limited resources can become more sustainable, any hospital can — especially hospitals with more resources. This work takes heart, vision, and commitment from leadership.”

“In health care, we’re trying to heal our patients,” Mason Health Chief Development and Communication Officer Jennifer Capps said in the news release. “In direct alignment with our mission, vision, and values, it is our job to keep community members healthy. We really started this whole process to learn more about how we could eliminate waste to keep our entire community healthy.”

The news release states that Mason Health’s Green Team of leaders across the district works hard throughout the year on sustainability initiatives.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with Jennifer and her team at Mason Health on their environmental stewardship journey,” said Kate Gottlieb, sustainability strategy manager at Practice Greenhealth with Health Care Without Harm. “Having grown up in a rural area supported by timber dollars, I appreciate Mason Health’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Their efforts ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the stunning Hood Canal and the lush greenery of the Pacific Northwest.”

The Greenhealth Partner for Change Award notes that Mason Health’s Bistro, led by Culinary and Nutrition Services Manager Ashlee Johnson, made big strides is using sustainable and local food sources the past several years while other departments have focused on initiatives such as eliminating paper waste.

The Greening in Operating Room Award notes that Mason Health Surgical Services Director Lori Genson has prioritized eliminating hazardous smoke from operating rooms.

The Making Medicine Mercury-Free Award recognizes hospitals that have virtually eliminated mercury from their facilities and have made a commitment to continue to be “mercury free.” Mason Health’s Supply Chain and Environmental Services departments ensured Mason Health has policies in place to encourage the purchase of mercury alternatives and to handle hazardous waste in the event of a toxic spill.