Iowa Health - Des Moines has been honored with the 2012 "Partner for Change" Award from Practice Greenhealth, a national membership organization for health care facilities committed to environmentally responsible operations. The Award is one of the organization's Environmental Excellence Awards given each year to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the health care sector.

The Partner for Change Award recognizes health care facilities that continuously improve and expand upon their mercury elimination, waste reduction, and source reduction programs. At a minimum, facilities applying for this Award must be recycling 15 percent of their total waste, are well along the way to mercury elimination, and have developed other successful pollution prevention programs in many different areas.

"This award demonstrates Iowa Health - Des Moines' commitment to their community to protect public health and preserve the environment," said Laura Wenger, RN, Executive Director, Practice Greenhealth. "Iowa Health - Des Moines is truly demonstrating leadership for the future of health care."

To learn more about sustainability practices at Iowa Health - Des Moines, click here.

Practice Greenhealth is the nation's leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the health care community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Members include hospitals, health care systems, businesses and other stakeholders engaged in the greening of health care to improve the health of patients, staff and the environment. Practice Greenhealth is a source of environmental solutions for the health care sector. For more information on Practice Greenhealth, visit www.practicegreenhealth.org.

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