Creation of Sustainability Initiative Applauded
ThedaCare has earned a national honor for creating a culture of sustainability that benefits its patients, employees and communities. Vizient, the largest member-owned healthcare company in the nation, presented ThedaCare with its 2016 Excellence Award for Sustainability, which recognizes healthcare systems that demonstrate a focus and commitment to sustainability practices through the implementation of a new program with measurable success.
ThedaCare’s commitment to sustainability is rooted in its mission statement to improve the health of the communities where it operates hospitals and clinics, said Paul Linzmeyer, sustainability leader for ThedaCare. Since 2012, he said employees have taken several steps, including planting local gardens and increasing recycling efforts, designed to reduce its carbon footprint while also educating community members on how to lead healthier lives.
“ThedaCare employees should be very proud of the exemplary efforts they have made in advancing our sustainability initiatives,” Linzmeyer said. “From our food services and wellness teams who are advancing healthy food and beverages into our system, to the facilities and medical staffs who help us achieve amazing energy reduction targets, to all staff who are helping us reduce material waste to the landfill – they have all worked hard. It’s really a cultural shift that will position us as a leader in sustainable healthcare delivery.”
For more than 100 years, ThedaCare™ has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves over 200,000 patients annually and employs more than 7,000 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 34 clinics in 14 counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service. The ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center in Appleton opened in February. For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter
