Hackensack Meridian Health Hospitals Recognized Among Top Hospitals in the Nation for Environmental Excellence by Practice Greenhealth

Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health care network, today announced that four network hospitals – Hackensack University Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean University Medical Center and Bayshore Medical Center – were recognized by Practice Greenhealth as Top 25 Environmental Excellence Awards Honorees in the nation. In addition, Practice Greenhealth awarded Hackensack Meridian Health with the System for Change Award, and other network hospitals were recognized for their commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability achievements. Practice Greenhealth is the leading membership and network organization for sustainable health care, delivering environmental solutions to hospitals and health systems across the country.

“Hackensack Meridian Health is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care, and protecting the environment and promoting sustainability is vital to our work,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “I would like to congratulate and recognize the hospitals across our network for being leaders in environmental stewardship. We are committed to advancing health care sustainability and look forward to being a leader of positive change in the communities we serve.”

The Top 25 Environmental Excellence Awards is Practice Greenhealth’s highest honor for hospitals. This was Hackensack University Medical Center’s eighth time receiving the prestigious award, and the medical center has received the award every year since it was created. This was Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s second time receiving the award, while Ocean University Medical Center and Bayshore Medical Center’s both celebrated their first time receiving the award.

“It is an honor for Hackensack Meridian Health and its hospitals to be so widely recognized by Practice Greenhealth for our outstanding sustainability performance,” said Deirdre Imus, founder and president of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center®. “The environment has a direct impact on our health, and it only makes sense that as a health network, Hackensack Meridian Health is focused on creating healthier communities by being a champion of environmental excellence.”

The health network also received recognition by Practice Greenhealth: Hackensack Meridian Health received the System for Change Award. The health network was also honored as one of the top 10 health systems in the nation for Sustainable Procurement for the second year in a row. In addition, Hackensack Meridian Health was ranked among the top 10 in the country for Safer Chemicals for the second year in a row.

Launched in 2002, the Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards program recognizes health care organizations for their commitment to environmental stewardship and their sustainability achievements. In addition to the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Awards, the program includes Circles of Excellence Awards, which honor the top 10 hospitals nationwide in each sustainability impact area, as well as several other recognitions. Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals were recognized in the following ways:

• Top 10 in the Country for Food: Hackensack University Medical Center
• Top 10 in the Country for Energy: Hackensack University Medical Center
• Top 10 in the Country for Leadership: Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Ocean University Medical Center
• Greening the OR Recognition Award Honorees: Ocean University Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center and Southern Ocean Medical Center
• Emerald Awards: Raritan Bay Perth Amboy, Raritan Bay Old Bridge, Southern Ocean Medical Center, Palisades Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center 
• Making Medicine Mercury Free: Palisades Medical Center

”The recognition our team members received from Practice Greenhealth is well-deserved, and we look forward to continuing to implement sustainable solutions across our network," said Kyle Tafuri, Director of Sustainability at Hackensack Meridian Health.

To view the 2022 Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards, click here.