Green Healthcare

We are committed to pursuing our healthcare ministry in a manner that preserves and protects the environment. CHP's commitment to "green healthcare" is rooted in one of our six core values -- sacredness of life -- which calls us to reverence all life and creation.

Because we feel so strongly about the health of the earth, we have made environmental stewardship a part of our health system's 2009-2013 Strategic Direction (PDF). It directs us to manage our resources in an environmentally sustainable manner to ensure their availability for future generations.

Gold Award for Waste Reduction
CHP was among the recipients of a Gold Award from Ascent Healthcare Solutions for outstanding 2008 performance in medical device reprocessing and waste reduction that resulted in total waste savings of close to $1.2 million. CHP's regional and facility supply chain personnel were able to use Ascent's remanufacturing and reprocessing programs to prevent 55,880 pounds of used medical devices from going into landfills during 2008.

Other Environmental Accomplishments
CHP hospitals have gone mercury-free, replacing mercury-containing medical devices such as blood pressure gauges, gastrointestinal tubes and thermometers with mercury-free alternatives. During 2008, 2.3 million pounds (that's more than 1,180 tons) of confidential documents were shredded and recycled throughout CHP, saving more than 20,000 trees. And, since 2007, a program to reuse sharps containers has diverted more than 611,000 pounds of waste from landfills.

In addition, energy assessments have been completed at many CHP hospitals. CHP will be working to reduce and manage energy consumption and to explore ways to purchase "cleaner" energy, such as that generated through the use of solar energy and wind power. Paper reduction/recycling pilot projects are also under way in each of our divisions.