Lawrence General Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Sustainable Healthcare Certification (SHC) by prioritizing environmental sustainability through decarbonization efforts. The certification demonstrates Lawrence General’s achievement in establishing structure, rigor, and accountability to accelerate these efforts. They are the first in the state, first in New England, and one of only 11 hospitals in the country to earn the recognition.
The healthcare industry accounts for nearly nine percent of the nation’s carbon emissions. In reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, organizations commit to cost-effective and efficient operations that seek to address climate change and the impacts that climate-related events can have on individuals.
Lawrence General underwent a rigorous virtual review on Dec. 12, 2024. During the review, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including the organization’s contribution toward global sustainability, its baselines for measuring three sources of GHG emissions and its actionable plans for reducing them.
“Sustainable Healthcare Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety, quality of care and environmental sustainability,” said Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend Lawrence General Hospital for using The Joint Commission’s certification process to enact sustainable practices and utilize resources that positively benefit patients and the environment.”
“Lawrence General Hospital is proud to be recognized by The Joint Commission for our efforts to promote environmental sustainability throughout the hospital and reduce the negative impacts of climate change on patient care and hospital operations,” said Lawrence General Hospital President and CEO Dr. Abha Agrawal. “This certification is a testament to our team of caregivers who work tirelessly to reduce the environmental footprint of our healthcare facility for the benefit of our communities.”
Lawrence General also demonstrated continued efforts to reduce the hospital’s carbon footprint through partnerships with organizations including the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Safety Net Decarbonization Collaborative, MassDEP, Recycle Works, Waste Focus and World Health.
Lawrence General also maintains a long-standing relationship with Groundwork Lawrence, partnering with them on numerous environmental initiatives.