(HARTFORD, Conn.) – Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
has received a 2007 Partners for Change Award from Hospitals for a
Healthy Environment (H2E). The award recognizes the Hospital’s
achievements in improving environmental performance.
Saint Francis also received the Making Medicine Mercury-Free Award
from H2E. Jointly founded by the American Hospital Association, the
Environmental Protection Agency, Health Care Without Harm and the American
Nurses Association, H2E is an independent not-for-profit organization
focused on improving healthcare environmental performance.
“By reducing its environmental impact, Saint Francis is playing
a pioneering role in healthcare’s shift toward protecting public
health,” said Laura Brannen, Executive Director of H2E.
The H2E Partners for Change Award recognizes facilities that continuously
improve and expand upon their mercury elimination, waste reduction
and pollution prevention programs. At a minimum, facilities receiving
this award recycle at least 10 percent of their solid waste, have established
mercury elimination programs and have developed other successful programs
to reduce their operations’ impact on the environment.
Between 2001 and 2006, Saint Francis doubled its recycling/reuse
rate from 10 percent to 20 percent. Over the last seven years, the
Hospital has also reduced by
7 percent the volume of solid and medical waste that it generates.
The Making Medicine Mercury-Free Award is a one-time award given
to facilities that have met the challenge of becoming virtually mercury-free.
Saint Francis eliminated all mercury-based medical devices, such
as thermometers and blood pressure gauges, more than 10 years ago and
maintains policies to ensure that new products purchased are mercury
free.
“These awards are testament to our long-standing commitment
to making Saint Francis environmentally friendly,” said Robert
Falaguerra, Vice President, Facilities, Support Services and Construction. “We
look forward to intensifying our efforts in the years ahead.”
Founded in 1897, Saint Francis is a major teaching hospital licensed
for 617 acute inpatient beds and 65 bassinets and is the largest Catholic
hospital in New England.