Rush University Medical Center was named one of the top 25 hospitals in the country for its leadership in environmental sustainability. It is the highest honor given by Practice Greenhealth, a national organization dedicated to sustainability in healthcare.
“Rush recognizes that we can’t have healthy patients on an ailing planet,” said David Ansell, MD, senior vice president for Community Health Equity at Rush. “This honor demonstrates our commitment to minimize the impact we have on our environment both now and in the future.”
In addition to the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award, Rush received three Circles of Excellence Awards for being among the top 10 hospitals in the categories of climate, sustainable procurement and transportation categories. The achievements noted in the Circle Awards are as follows:
Climate
- Received the Joint Commission Sustainable Healthcare Certification focused on reducing healthcare’s greenhouse gas emissions.
- Joined in sharing community solar projects across the state.
- Earned its fourth ComEd “Project of the Year” award for having the largest electricity savings.
- Received the Peoples Gas “Partner of the Year” award for natural gas efficiency projects.
Sustainable procurement
- Worked with vendors to identify a way to reduce plastic use and cost by transitioning single-use disposable patient positioning devices in the operating room to reusable ones.
- Partnered with local vendors, such as Fillmore laundry service, to boost economic and social growth on Chicago’s West Side while decreasing energy and water use.
Transportation
- Developed a five-year vision for electric vehicle charging, in collaboration with Resource Innovations, to support staff, students and visitors, as well as address electric vehicle charging “deserts” on the West Side.
- Increased opportunities for patients to access virtual care through initiatives like Rush Connect, which helps reduce emissions from travel to Rush locations.
“Environmental sustainability is preventive medicine,” said Ian Hughes, director of environmental sustainability at Rush. “This award is proof of what’s possible when collaborators across our campus live that belief.”
