NEWS RELEASE
155 East Broad Street, Suite 301, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3640. www.ohiohospitals.org 614.221.7614
OHA Contact:
John Palmer, Director of Public Affairs
(office) 614-221-7614
[email protected]
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ohio Hospitals Honored for Environmental Leadership on Earth Day
Columbus, Ohio – (April 22, 2015) The Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) recognized 13 Ohio hospitals today for
their environmental leadership and honored Mercy Health Youngstown for its comprehensive pollution
prevention programs.
The health care sector is America’s second most energy-intensive industry. Hospitals alone spend $5 billion on
energy each year and account for more than 8 percent of our nation’s total energy use. Beginning with a
partnership with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) in the 1990s, OHA embarked on a
campaign to assist hospitals with pollution prevention and waste reduction and has recognized the energy
efficiency accomplishments of hospitals since 2002.
“Hospitals across the state are leading efforts to be sound environmental stewards in our communities,” said
Mike Abrams, OHA president and CEO. “We commend the honorees for their exceptional work and dedication
to our environment.” Named after Mel Creeley, retired CEO from East Liverpool City Hospital and past chair of
OHA’s Environmental Leadership Council, the Melvin Creeley Environmental Leadership Award annually
recognizes hospitals for promoting best practices through environmental stewardship. The 2015 honorees are:
 Barnesville Hospital (Barnesville)
 Bethesda North TriHealth Hospital (Cincinnati)
 Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers, Bryan Building (Bryan)
 Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center* (Cleveland)
 Mercy Health Youngstown* (Youngstown)
 Mount Carmel Health System (Columbus)
 Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital* (Westerville)
 ProMedica Bay Park Community Hospital (Toledo)
 ProMedica Toledo Hospital (Toledo)
 Samaritan Regional Health System (Ashland)
 Tri-Health Good Samaritan Hospital* (Cincinnati)
 UC Health (Cincinnati)
 University Hospitals* (Cleveland)
 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center* (Dayton)
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Earth Day 2015/pg. 2
Six of the 13 recipients, denoted above with an asterisk, were considered for OHA’s John Chapman Award,
which recognizes a hospital or health system that demonstrates excellence in initiating or supporting pollution
prevention programs. Mercy Health Youngstown was awarded OHA’s John Chapman Award for its
implementation of a six-year effort to reduce the organization’s ecological footprint. Mercy Health
Youngstown’s efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle include:
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Energy efficiency: Participated in the OHA Energy Cup, working to reduce the hospital’s energy
consumption.
Sustainable office etiquette: Eliminated bottled water at meetings and replaced it with filtered tap
water; exponentially reduced the amount of printers located within Mercy Health facilities, eliminated
printed agendas at meetings and promoted printing double-sided copies as necessary.
Pharmaceutical waste management: Implemented a highly interdisciplinary and complex waste
management program. To date, Mercy has collected more than 50,000 pounds of non-hazardous and
4,025 pounds of hazardous pharmaceuticals for safe disposal.
Cash for Cans: Developed a partnership with Youngstown City Schools district’s Option IV Job Training
Program where students collect cans from recycling areas at Mercy Health sites. The cans are then
sorted and shipped to the Mahoning County Green Team’s Cash for Cans program, which provides cash
rebates for recyclable aluminum cans. Mercy matches rebates earned through the students’ efforts,
and all proceeds benefit the district’s Option IV Job Training Program.
The award is named after John Chapman or “Johnny Appleseed,” who planted thousands of apple trees across
the Midwest during the 19th century. The award will be presented at OHA’s annual meeting keynote
presentation on Tuesday, June 9 in Columbus. Past honorees include:
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2014:
2013:
2012:
2011:
2010:
2009:
2008:
2007:
2006:
2005:
2004:
2003:
2002:
University Hospitals (Cleveland)
Mount Carmel Health Systems (Columbus)
Mercy Medical Center (Canton)
Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland)
OhioHealth (Columbus)
Barnesville Hospital (Barnesville)
Huron Hospital (Huron)
Lake Health System (Concord)
Fairfield Medical Center (Lancaster)
The Christ Hospital (Cincinnati)
St. Charles Mercy Hospital (Oregon)
East Liverpool City Hospital (East Liverpool)
Fisher Titus Medical Center (Norwalk)
OHA's Environmental Leadership Council provides leadership, support and technical resources to Ohio
hospitals in their efforts to reduce waste, prevent pollution and comply with environmental regulations. The
Council includes representatives from hospitals and allied organizations such as the Ohio Nurses Association
and the OEPA. OHA's environmental advocacy is accomplished through the Hospital Pollution Prevention (P2)
Initiative, a hands-on approach to evaluate waste systems.
About OHA:
Established in 1915, the Ohio Hospital Association represents 219 hospitals and 13 health systems throughout
Ohio. OHA, marking its centennial year in 2015, is the nation’s oldest state hospital association. With a mission
to collaborate with member hospitals and health systems to ensure a healthy Ohio, OHA is focused on three
strategic initiatives: patient safety and quality, advocacy and economic sustainability.
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