Jersey Shore UMC, Hackensack Meridian Hospitals Recognized Among Tops for Environmental Excellence

Ten Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals were recognized by Practice Greenhealth — the nation’s leading organization dedicated to sustainability in healthcare — for environmental excellence in 2024.

“Hackensack Meridian Health is leading the way in healthcare sustainability,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH). “Our Practice Greenhealth recognitions reflect our network-wide commitment to our patients and communities through comprehensive and ongoing efforts to promote environmental stewardship.”

Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) and Ocean University Medical Center (OUMC) were recognized among Practice Greenhealth’s 2024 Top 25 Hospitals in Environmental Excellence. HUMC has earned this prestigious recognition for 10 consecutive years – every year since the award was created, this is JSUMC’s fourth, and OUMC’s third recognition as Top 25 hospitals.

“We’ve created a culture of sustainability across Hackensack Meridian Health,” said Kyle Tafuri, vice president of sustainability, HMH. “Our responsibility of being stewards of the environment is part of our commitment to providing healthcare. Our Practice Greenhealth and Joint Commission recognitions and our partnership with solar energy company Bernhard show that we are national leaders committed to healthcare sustainability. We’re creating a healthier future for our patients and communities.”

The Top 25 Hospitals Environmental Excellence Award is Practice Greenhealth’s highest honor for hospitals. The Environmental Excellence Awards are given annually to honor healthcare achievements in sustainability. Seven HMH hospitals also received the Greenhealth Emerald Award, which recognizes an ongoing commitment to improving environmental performance and efforts to build sustainability and resiliency into the institution's operations and culture. The Circle of Excellence Awards honor up to 10 of the highest-performing hospitals nationwide in each area of sustainability expertise. HMH awards include:

• HUMC — Top 25 Hospital; Top 10 Circle of Excellence in Leadership, Safer Chemicals, and Food; Greening the OR Recognition Award

• JSUMC — Top 25 Hospital; Top 10 Circle of Excellence in Leadership; Greening the OR Recognition Award

• OUMC — Top 25 Hospital; Top 10 Circle of Excellence in Leadership

• Bayshore Medical Center (BMC) – Greenhealth Emerald Award; Top 10 Circle of Excellence in Leadership

• JFK University Medical Center — Greenhealth Emerald Award; Top 10 Circle of Excellence in Leadership

• Palisades Medical Center — Greenhealth Emerald Award

• Raritan Bay Medical Center – Old Bridge — Greenhealth Emerald Award; Top 10 Circle of Excellence in Waste

• Raritan Bay Medical Center — Greenhealth Emerald Award

• Riverview Medical Center — Greenhealth Emerald Award; Greening the OR Recognition Award

• Southern Ocean Medical Center — Greenhealth Emerald Award, Top 10 Circle of Excellence in Leadership

HMH’s Practice Greenhealth recognitions closely follow the network’s latest sustainability honor, with four HMH hospitals — HUMC, BMC, JSUMC and OUMC — becoming first in the nation to earn the Joint Commission’s Sustainable Healthcare Certification (SHC).

In April 2024, HMH and Bernhard, one of America’s largest privately owned infrastructure firms, announced a groundbreaking 30-year Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) partnership. Through the partnership, HMH will own any not-for-profit healthcare provider's largest solar and battery energy storage system in the U.S. The agreement also includes 50,000 solar panels manufactured in the U.S., $134 million in infrastructure improvements, a 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions, a 25 percent decrease in purchased electricity, and a 33 percent guaranteed energy savings.