In recognition of its achievement and innovation in environmental sustainability, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon has received the 2022 Partner Recognition Award from Practice Greenhealth, the nation's leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in healthcare.  

"WellSpan is beginning an extensive assessment to identify sustainability goals, practices and opportunities to improve the health of our communities, reduce the cost of care and improve the environment. We began our efforts at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, and this award recognizes their work to embrace sustainability as part of our vision to reimagine healthcare," said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO of WellSpan Health. 

In the past year, WellSpan Good Samaritan completed a comprehensive sustainability baseline assessment and implemented environmental best practices identified including: 

• Reducing regulated medical waste by establishing centralized bins and reusable sharps containers.  
• Greening the operating room by moving to reusable hard cases for surgical kits, replacing disposable containers with a fluid management system, and reviewing kits annually to eliminate unnecessary supplies.  
• Maintaining use of reusable privacy curtains rather than previously used disposable versions.  

"In a shifting healthcare landscape, a focus on sustainability can help build resilience while better protecting the health of patients and the community," said Gary Cohen, Practice Greenhealth founder. "WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital demonstrates the kind of leadership, innovation, and performance that can drive the entire health sector toward more environmentally responsible practices." 

The Partner Recognition Award recognizes facilities that have a commitment to environmental improvements and have achieved progress in several areas of the organization.  The award is one of Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence Awards given annually to honor health care's achievements in sustainability.