Atlantic Health System and its facilities recognized for continued environmental sustainability
Atlantic Health System one of only 15 systems recognized nationwide by Practice Greenhealth
NEW JERSEY – Atlantic Health System was one of only 15 health systems in the United States to recently receive Practice Greenhealth’s prestigious System for Change award, recognizing the health care organization’s accomplishments in environmental sustainability.
Each of Atlantic Health System’s medical centers also received Environmental Excellence awards from Practice Greenhealth.
Atlantic Health System’s Chilton Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, Hackettstown Medical Center and Newton Medical Center again received the Greenhealth Emerald Award, which recognizes outstanding hospitals from within the Partner for Change applicants. This competitive award recognizes the top 20 percent of applicants and is focused on advanced sustainability programs and exemplary scores in a range of categories.
Atlantic Health System’s 111 Madison Avenue Surgery Center (located adjacent to the hospital) and Rockaway Surgery Center received The Greenhealth Partner for Change Award which recognizes superior performance in environmental sustainability, covering a range of different sustainability programs and activities. Winners have also made substantive progress on mercury elimination.
Morristown Medical Center and Hackettstown Medical Center were also honored with recognition in special categories with the Water Circle of Excellence Award, while Chilton Medical Center was recognized with the Transportation Circle of Excellence Award.
These recognitions are among Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards given annually to honor health care’s achievements in sustainability.
Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care, highlighting success in making health care operations greener. Atlantic Health has been recognized by Practice Greenhealth consistently for several years, for a myriad of innovative solutions designed to lower the New Jersey-based health care organization’s impact on the environment.
“The continued recognition of our environmental achievements truly speaks to the commitment of our team members and organization to making health care more sustainable,” said Carolyn Brown-Dancy, executive director of environmental health and safety-sustainability for Atlantic Health System. “For Atlantic Health System, that commitment is about taking our efforts to improve the health of our communities beyond our own facilities.”
Atlantic Health has pursued sustainability in numerous ways throughout the years, from recycling to utilizing environmentally-friendly materials throughout the organization. In this past year, the system focused heavily on energy data benchmarking, which includes collecting and analyzing water, gas and electricity usage throughout the organization. That focus was particularly reflected in the Circle of Excellence recognitions for water conservation at Morristown and Hackettstown medical centers, and for minimizing the environmental impact of transportation at Chilton Medical Center.
For example, the implementation of a combined heat and power (CHP), or “co-gen,” power system at Morristown Medical Center improved power reliability, reduced operational costs and optimized energy use, all resulting in significant energy cost savings by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“In a shifting health care landscape, a focus on sustainability can help build resilience while better protecting the health of patients and the community,” said Gary Cohen, Practice Greenhealth founder. “Atlantic Health demonstrates the kind of leadership, innovation, and performance that can drive the entire health sector toward more environmentally responsible practices.”
Practice Greenhealth is the leading membership and networking organization for sustainable health care, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,700 U.S. hospitals and health systems.
The awards from Practice Greenhealth follow similar honors from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative, which in April bestowed Atlantic Health System with the 2025 Better Project recognition. This acknowledgement highlights accomplishments in implementing and promoting practices, principles, and procedures of energy management. Atlantic Health System was highlighted for its CHP project at Morristown Medical Center.
