Dignity Health Central Coast Hospitals Earn National Awards for Environmental Sustainability from Practice Greenhealth

Nationwide acknowledgement recognizes sustainability accomplishments in health care

CENTRAL COAST – Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH), French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC), and Marian Regional Medical Center (MRMC), which are Dignity Health Central Coast hospitals, are proud to share that their sustainability strategies have been recognized nationally by Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care.

Both AGCH and MRMC received the Partner for Change awards from Practice Greenhealth. The Partner for Change Award recognizes health care facilities that continuously improve and expand upon programs to eliminate mercury, reduce and recycle waste, source products sustainably, and more. Winning facilities must demonstrate that they are recycling at least 15 percent of their total waste, have reduced regulated medical waste, are on track to eliminate mercury, and have developed successful sustainability programs in many areas.

In addition, Marian was also honored with a Circle of Excellence award for scoring in the top tier for water conservation and efficiency. This category recognizes hospitals for exemplary programs in water conservation and efficiency. These early adopters boast fewer gallons of water consumption per square foot, tracking of implemented conservation projects, written plans to reduce water consumption over time and have water-tracking mechanisms in place.

FHMC received the Partner Recognition award, which recognizes facilities that have a commitment to environmental improvements, and have achieved progress in several areas of the organization.

“One of our core values at Dignity Health is stewardship - cultivating the resources entrusted to us to promote healing and wholeness – and we are proud to have been nationally recognized for our sustainability efforts,” says Heidi Summers, Senior Director, Mission Integration and Education, Dignity Health Central Coast. “We continuously evaluate our impact, set new goals, and improve our methods. We are glad to do our part as we tend to the goods of the earth for our communities.”

In health care, sustainability means eliminating mercury, reducing and recycling solid waste, cutting down on regulated and chemical waste, lowering energy and water consumption, sourcing food and products sustainably, and establishing green purchasing policies. At Dignity Health Central Coast, we understand that sustainability is essential to better care for our patients, our communities, and our planet.

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About Dignity Health Central Coast
Dignity Health Central Coast is comprised of five award-winning hospitals, all recognized for their quality of care, safety and service, primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically advanced imaging centers, outpatient services, and comprehensive home health services. Hospitals in the Dignity Health Central Coast region include Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, and St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard. Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to provide additional funding to support new programs and services, as well as to advance the community’s access to health care.  For more information, visit dignityhealth.org/centralcoast.

About Arroyo Grande Community Hospital
Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, located in Arroyo Grande, California, is rated a top Joint Replacement Center by Blue Shield and is among the Top 10% in the nation for Joint Replacement. Arroyo has achieved prestigious designation as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. The Emergency Department is one of the busiest in the county and nationally recognized for superior patient satisfaction. The hospital also provides the only comprehensive hospital-based Acute Rehabilitation Center on the Central Coast. Arroyo is a Dignity Health member of the Central Coast which also includes French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, CA, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA, St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, CA and St. John’s Pleasant Valley in Camarillo, CA. Dignity Health Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service. Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities.