St. Louis-based SSM Health plans to double down on protecting and preserving the environment by launching a multi-faceted approach to sustainability. Here are three things to know about the system's new commitment.
1. SSM Health will join the Healthier Hospitals Initiative, a group of health systems around the nation that offers guidelines to reduce energy use and waste. As part of this membership agreement, SSM Health will work to reduce its energy use by 3 percent, achieve a 25 percent recycling rate and reduce regulated medical waste to less than 10 percent of total waste.
2. Additionally, the system launched a mission-based Impact Investment Program, through which it will divest all investments in coal production companies and invest in other companies and funds that have a positive social or environmental impact.
3. SSM Health will also advocate on environmental issues that come up in the communities it serves.
While those three initiatives are new, SSM Health has long been committed to sustainability. LEED principles have been incorporated into new SSM Health facilities since 2009, and all of its hospitals have maintained or decreased air emissions over the last three years, for instance.