To promote patients' and employees' health, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia will no longer offer sugary drinks at its healthcare facilities, according to The Morning Call.
Over the next several months, the health system will phase out any drinks with added sugar, including soda, sports drinks and sweetened juices. Diet and unsweetened beverages will be substituted in vending machines.
These changes are part of a larger health initiative to help patients and employees with heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses, according to an Aug. 8 news release from Penn Medicine.
"Our work to prevent and care for patients with chronic conditions impacted by their diets includes educating them on healthy food and beverage choices — lessons which we believe should be mirrored by what we serve in our facilities," Penn Medicine CEO Ralph Muller said in the news release.
Multiple hospitals within the system are also changing their food menus to follow the Philadelphia Department of Public Health's "Good Food, Healthy Hospitals" campaign.
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