VHA Inc. recognizes member organizations for sustainability excellence
Awards honor innovative programs that engage hospital staff, clinicians, patients and the community
IRVING, Texas, May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- VHA Inc., the national health care network, has recognized three health systems with four 2013 VHA Leadership Awards for Sustainability Excellence. Announced at VHA's Navigating to Excellence Forum in Las Vegas, awards in two categories honor organizations that are leading the way in health care sustainability through responsible use of natural resources, community engagement and environmental stewardship.
Best in Class – Comprehensive Program
This category recognizes organizations that have a mature sustainability strategy and exhibit organization-wide commitment to upholding standards in their daily business practices. Criteria include linkage to health system's mission and goals, leadership and accountability, employee engagement, project prioritization and management, and annual reporting.
Winners for 2013:
- Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn.
Innovation and Impact – Specific Project
This category recognizes specific innovations that organizations have implemented to enhance their own operations but that also have the ability to impact the way the health care sector approaches a more sustainable future. Criteria include scope of project, objectives, challenges, development, stakeholder involvement, innovative character, expandable learnings, scalability, success criteria, outcomes measurement and reporting.
Winners for 2013:
- Providence Health & Services, Portland, Ore.
- Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, Mich.
The VHA Leadership Award for Sustainability Excellence is part of VHA's larger commitment to corporate citizenship and sustainability. VHA introduced its new Global Reporting Initiative toolkit based on GRI's voluntary sustainability reporting guidelines to help hospitals gather and report data on their environmental and social impact. VHA published its first GRI sustainability report four years ago and is the only health care group purchasing organization (GPO) in the United States that reports using the GRI framework.
"These organizations are pioneering a culture of sustainability to build a healthier environment for patients and the community at large," said Colleen Risk, executive vice president at VHA. "We are proud to recognize their achievements, which reflect strong values and commitment, and to spotlight them as models for our industry on what the future can be."
About VHA
VHA Inc., based in Irving, Texas, is a national network of not-for-profit health care organizations that work together to drive maximum savings in the supply chain arena, set new levels of clinical performance, and identify and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes. Since 1977, VHA has leveraged its expertise in analytics, contracting, consulting and networks to help members achieve their operational, clinical and financial objectives. In 2011, VHA delivered record savings and value of $1.9 billion to members. VHA serves more than 1,350 hospitals and more than 72,000 non-acute care providers nationwide, coordinating delivery of its programs and services through its 13 regional offices. For more information, visit www.vha.com and follow us on Twitter (@VHAInc).
SOURCE VHA Inc.
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