Another Successful Year!
Key Green Solutions has not only done it again, but we have done it bigger and better than last year. This year we automatically uploaded data into the Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Award Application for 59 hospitals. We scrubbed through 610,082 data records to answer 4,000 questions in the Award Application. It took 5 minutes.
How?
One word; Automatic. Key Green Solutions is the Gold Standard for data. We collect data directly from the vendors and upload it into our software. We receive this data monthly from the vendors and keep our Dashboard up to date, allowing hospitals to view the most accurate and current data. Our team reviews the data and clarifies any discrepancies with the vendors.
This is how we export data into the PGH Award Application, all it takes is one click.
Key Green Solutions doesn’t just help hospitals save time and money, we help those hospitals set the standard, the standard of excellence. We would like to thank all the hospitals that relied on our team to help complete the Practice Greenhealth Award Application. It was our pleasure serving you and we look forward to next year’s upload.
Tag: awards
Dignity Health's Sustainability Crusader: Sister Mary Ellen Leciejewski
Sister Mary Ellen Leciejewski’s connection to the environment began in childhood, where she and her four siblings spent most of their time outside in nature playing. As a four-year-old, she looked forward to 4am trips on Sunday mornings in Ohio to go morel mushroom picking in the woods with her father and older sister. These early memories shaped her appreciation of the environment which continued when she joined the Adrian Dominican Sisters and as she pursued her career teaching high school French for 20 years.
She loved working with children, and intended on making teaching in high school her lifelong career. She frequented the motherhouse in Adrian, Michigan where Caldwell Dominican Sister Miriam Therese MacGillis held a workshop entitled “The Fate of the Earth”, which detailed the impact humans have had on the environment and the inextricable connection between the health of Earth and human health. The seminar touched Sister Mary Ellen so deeply that she spent her summers off from school working on Genesis Farm, a 140-acre farm founded by the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell, New Jersey and at other environmental centers around the country. Following those experiences, she decided to pursue her interest in the environment by getting a Master’s in Ecology.
Adrian Dominican Sister Julie Hyer, who at the time was the CEO and President of Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and Sister Susan Vickers, VP Shareholder Advocacy asked Sister Mary Ellen if she might be interested in taking a position at Dignity Health (formerly Catholic Healthcare West) doing ecology work to make the hospitals throughout the system greener. At the time, Dignity Health had been talking about reducing waste and having a positive environmental impact. The minute Sister Mary Ellen walked through the doors of the hospital, she knew in her gut that this was where she wanted to be. It’s been twenty-one years since she made the transition into healthcare and sustainability, and her passion, enthusiasm, and hard work make her one of the most influential and respected people in the sustainability healthcare field.
Question: Sister Mary Ellen, I saw in the Dignity Health Sustainability Report that, “human kindness is the lens through which Dignity Health views our decisions and behaviors.” That is such a lovely sentiment coming from a very prominent healthcare system! Can you speak to how human kindness guides Dignity Health’s sustainability and goals?
Sister Mary Ellen: It IS a lovely sentiment! And scientific evidence confirms that kindness helps in the healing process. When we are kind to one another, we help each other heal. I believe that how we treat one another spills over into how we treat Earth and all its systems: air, water, soil, animals. It’s all connected! Humankindness is a powerful lens that helps us see those connections.
Question: I have heard and observed a very strong culture and support for sustainability goals and metrics within Dignity Health. There are a lot of organizations that struggle to get interest and support for sustainability initiatives. What insight and advice can you offer to organizations that want to have a stronger culture and commitment to sustainability?
Sister Mary Ellen: Find the people who are passionate about sustainability. Empower them to do the work that needs to be done. Collect information and hard data regarding costs and benefits of adopting (or not adopting) sustainability practices. Embed sustainability practices in systemwide policies. Keep communicating the connection between the health of the planet and the health of patients and communities you serve.
Question: What components do you attribute to the success of your organization’s sustainability goals?
Sister Mary Ellen: Support from Dignity Health leadership is key! We couldn’t continue down this sustainability path without support from our corporate and facility leadership. Other components include connecting with colleagues who are passionate about the environment and want to make a difference in the world; creating networks so that we can listen and learn from one another; celebrating our successes; being humble enough to know that don’t always have all the answers. Additionally, our collaboration with organizations such as Practice Greenhealth, other healthcare systems and our business partners have helped in the exchange of ideas and best practices.
Question: What do you view as your greatest career accomplishment and why?
Sister Mary Ellen: One of my greatest joys is building relationships and creating networks so that people feel empowered to speak out in this great and sacred work. Everyone’s gifts and talents are needed—NOW!
Question: Twenty years down the line, what would you envision for Dignity Health?
Sister Mary Ellen: I would envision us fully honoring the health of our employees, patients, and planet and that after each decision we make we ask the question: “How will this affect the planet?” I see this as important because if it’s good for the health of the planet it’s good for us!
Question: Do you have any form of mandatory training on sustainability for current employees and new hires?
Sister Mary Ellen: Each hospital offers a new employee orientation that includes a section on sustainability.
Question: That’s wonderful! Is there anything you would like to add or want our readers to know?
Sister Mary Ellen: Our partnership with Key Green Solutions and the services they provide are critical to our success and have stepped up our employee engagement. I see facilities inspiring each other through friendly and fun competition. Dominican Hospital, where I have my office, used to be number one for recycling and now Saint Francis has taken our number one spot. I need to call them and see what they’re doing because we’re coming for them!
Dignity Health has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for an Emerging User” for 2016 from Key Green Solutions
Dignity Health has been honored with the “Emerging User Award” for 2016 from Key Green Solutions, the leading sustainability management software company. The award recognized Dignity Health for their engagement and commitment to improving sustainability and growing the sustainability culture at their organization. Over 80% of the hospitals are above average in energy use efficiency. Over 75% of the hospitals are above 25% recycling.
The Key Green Solutions Sustainability Tracking Awards were presented in Minneapolis, MN at the Key Green Solutions reception on May 16, 2017.
University Hospitals Samaritan has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for a Small Hospital” for 2016 from Key Green Solutions
University Hospitals Samaritan has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for a Medium Hospital” for 2016 from Key Green Solutions, the leading sustainability management software company. The award recognizes University Hospitals Samaritan as the best performing medium (0-99 beds) hospital that is successfully measuring, setting system goals, benchmarking, and creating and culture of sustainability. University Hospitals Samaritan stands out with their strong commitment to water. They achieved top 25% lowest in water.
The Key Green Solutions Sustainability Tracking Awards were presented in Minneapolis, MN at the Key Green Solutions reception on May 16, 2017
VA Palo Alto Healthcare System has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for a Medium Hospital” for 2016 from Key Green Solutions
VA Palo Alto Healthcare System has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for a Medium Hospital” for 2016 from Key Green Solutions, the leading sustainability management software company. The award recognizes VA Palo Alto Healthcare System as the best performing medium (100-499 beds) hospital that is successfully measuring, setting system goals, benchmarking, and creating a culture of sustainability. VA Palo Alto Healthcare System stands out with their strong commitment to energy and waste. They achieved top 25% highest recycling at over 60% diversion, top 25% lowest in water, and top 25% lowest RMW.
The Key Green Solutions Sustainability Tracking Awards were presented in Minneapolis, MN at the Key Green Solutions reception on May 16, 2017
Hackensack University Medical Center has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for a Large Hospital” for 2016 from Key Green Solutions
Hackensack University Medical Center has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for a Large Hospital” for 2016 from Key Green Solutions, the leading sustainability management software company. The award recognizes Hackensack as the best performing large (500-1,000 bed) hospital that is successfully measuring, setting system goals, benchmarking, and creating a culture of sustainability. Hackensack stands out with their strong commitment to energy, waste, food, and purchasing. They achieved top 25% highest recycling, top 25% lowest in water, top 25% lowest RMW, sustainable/local food purchases over 19%, over 60% of meat and poultry purchases are raised without the routine use of antibiotics, green cleaning purchases account for over 60% or their cleaning purchases, and healthy beverages account for over 65% of overall beverages.
The Key Green Solutions Sustainability Tracking Awards were presented in Minneapolis, MN at the Key Green Solutions reception on May 16, 2017
Key Green Solutions creates 2017 Practice Greenhealth Award export
Key Green Solutions is proud to announce their exclusive partnership with Practice Greenhealth to create a data export for the 2017 Practice Greenhealth Awards, which is now available to all Key Green customers.
This feature is located directly on the Key Green Solutions portal, allowing all customers to have access to a simple data export to download their data. This allows for a seamless application process, as Key Green customers will no longer have to manually enter the data into the award application. This data export alleviates some of stress associated with award application season.
Sister Mary Ellen Leciejewski, Director of Ecology, Dignity Health commented, “through our partnership with Key Green Solutions, starting this year, the Practice Greenhealth Award Application will be so much easier to complete because of Key Green Solutions’ ability to upload all our quantitative data into the award application. In 2016 only 7 Dignity Health hospitals applied for awards because of how much time it takes to complete the award application. In 2017, Dignity Health will be able to apply for System for Change Award, because all 37 hospitals will have data uploaded by Key Green Solutions saving our hospitals weeks of work thanks to Key Green. Our exciting partnership continues to expand as the opportunities grow in our health system to become more sustainable”.
Key Green Solutions welcomes Dignity Health as a customer
Key Green Solutions, the leading hospital sustainability management software company, announces today that it has entered into an agreement with Dignity Health to provide exclusive sustainability management software for their 37 hospitals and other offsite facilities. The agreement represents an expansion for Key Green Solutions in the west.
“Dignity Health is very excited about our partnership with Key Green Solutions sustainability software. Our management is able to review and compare facility energy, water, waste usage/volumes and local/sustainable food purchases across the system (37 hospitals and other locations) and facilitate development of reports and applications for awards. We are able to measure our progress in meeting our goals and objectives, as well as see where we can do better and determine changes that need to be made. When we combine our great sustainability initiatives and the comprehensive web-based Key Green dashboard, the opportunities to grow as a health system are limitless.” Sister Mary Ellen Leciejewski, Director of Ecology, Dignity Health
Jeff Burks, Relationship Manager for Key Green Solutions, commented, “We are very pleased that Dignity Health has selected Key Green Solutions as the provider of its sustainability management software. We welcome Sister Susan Vickers (Vice President of Community Health), Sister Mary Ellen and David Jones (System Director, Energy & Facility Services Corporate Real Estate) and their high quality Dignity team to the Key Green Solutions family and are looking forward to a mutually rewarding partnership.”
Hackensack University Medical Center has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for a Large Hospital” for 2015 from Key Green Solutions
Hackensack University Medical Center has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for a Large Hospital” for 2015 from Key Green Solutions, the leading sustainability management software company. The award recognizes Hackensack as the best performing large (500-1,000 bed) hospital that is successfully measuring, setting system goals, benchmarking, and creating and culture of sustainability. Hackensack stands out with their strong commitment to energy, waste, food, and purchasing. They achieved top 25% highest recycling, top 25% lowest in water, top 25% lowest RMW, sustainable/local food purchases over 5%, and healthy beverages account for over 55% of overall beverages.
The Key Green Solutions Sustainability Tracking Awards were presented in Dallas, Texas at the Key Green Solutions reception on May 17, 2016.
University Hospital's Bedford Hospital has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for a Medium Hospital” for 2015 from Key Green Solutions
University Hospital’s Bedford Hospital has been honored with the “Sustainability Tracking Award for a Medium Hospital” for 2015 from Key Green Solutions, the leading sustainability management software company. This award recognized Bedford Hospital as the best performing medium (100-499 bed) hospital that is successfully measuring, setting system goals, benchmarking, and creating a culture of sustainability. Bedford Hospital achieved top 25% lowest RMW, top 25% recycling, sustainable/local food purchases over 5%, and healthy beverages account for over 55% of overall beverages.
The Key Green Solutions Sustainability Tracking Awards were presented in Dallas, Texas at the Key Green Solutions reception on May 17, 2016.