Sustainability Programs Implemented Across the Health Care System
Morristown, NJ – Carolyn Brown-Dancy, Director Environmental Health and Safety, Atlantic Health System, views the health care system’s mission of “Building Healthier Communities” as an opportunity to be a leader in sustainability. Her leadership commitment to create award-wining programs and implement programs to dramatically reduce waste and increase recycling earned her the Leadership Award from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the Association of New Jersey Recyclers. The award was presented at the Annual New Jersey Recycling Symposium and Awards Luncheon.
“It’s an honor to receive this award and I am grateful to Atlantic Health System’s leadership who realized the impact we could have on our communities and future generations by implementing innovative solutions to be a sustainability leader,” said Carolyn. “By taking a system-wide approach to sustainability, we are able to deliver high-quality care while raising the bar on environmental excellence.”
Atlantic Health System has achieved the following:
• Eliminated plastic straws in its cafeterias
• Implemented a system-wide recycling initiative
• Added honeybees to the rooftops of each medical center
• Reduced medical waste
• Has gone mercury-free
• Collected and recycled more than 75,000 plastic bags from team members and provided reusable tote bags
• Implemented EPIC electronic medical records, resulting in a 27% paper usage reduction in 2018
The achievements and commitment to sustainability has earned the system numerous awards. Recently, Overlook Medical Center earned Practice Greenhealth’s highest honor, the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award, for the second consecutive year, while Morristown, Newton, Chilton and Hackettstown medical centers, each received Practice Greenhealth’s Partner for Change Award. Last year, AHS received the Sustainable Business Leadership Award received from Sustainable New Jersey, the first and only healthcare system to receive this award.
The NJDEP, in conjunction with the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, annually recognizes excellence in recycling in order to highlight program successes achieved by agencies, businesses, individuals and others who help keep New Jersey communities clean and healthy.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 17,000 team members and 4,800 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 11 counties and 4.9 million people. The system offers 400 sites of care, including six hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ and Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ.
In addition to the employed workforce, Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network represents more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ. This network includes 1,000 physicians and providers comprising one of the largest multi-specialty practices in New Jersey - Atlantic Medical Group, as well as members of the Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners, which work to enhance patient care delivery.
Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health needs, including 12 urgent care centers, Atlantic Rehabilitation and Atlantic Home Care and Hospice. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of seven regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability, and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system expanding access to groundbreaking research across seven health systems in New Jersey.
Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.