Grant to grow green

UPMC has been awarded a $250,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments to develop extensive environmental initiatives and disease-prevention programs that expand on the health system's commitment to environmental health, safety, and stewardship.

The grant acknowledges and encourages UPMC's commitment to "greening" its operations with environmentally safe practices and expanded research on environmental links to disease, as well as community education and professional training. Central to the grant is the creation of a new senior position, director of environmental initiatives, to promote healthy work and patient-care environments in all UPMC facilities. The director will develop systemwide environmental policies and coordinate research initiatives for improving environmentally friendly operations.

"We are pleased to have the support of The Heinz Endowments in taking our environmental efforts to the next level," says William Smith, director, Environmental Health and Safety. "UPMC has already demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship, but with this grant, we intend to become an industry leader in defining best practices in this area for the benefit of our employees, patients, and communities."

The Heinz Endowments have been supporting environmental efforts at UPMC facilities for several years. The latest grant is part of a longer-term initiative to integrate health care and the environment. "UPMC is advancing a whole new model that links environmental concerns to its health care mission," says Ellen Dorsey, PhD, environment program officer at The Heinz Endowments.

UPMC is building one of the first environmentally sustainable pediatric hospitals at the new Lawrenceville site for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, with potential for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the hospital's new campus. In September 2006, Hospitals for a Healthy Environment gave its prestigious Partner Recognition Award to Magee-Womens Hospital and the Hillman Cancer Center for their commitment to reducing the impact of their operations on the environment and local communities. Magee also received the organization's Making Medicine Mercury Free Award, a citation for hospitals that meet the challenge of nearly eliminating mercury from their facilities.

Through the new Heinz Endowments grant, UPMC will continue to model prevention by expanding the greening of its facilities systemwide.

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