Healthcare Sustainability FAQs
To get started on your healthcare sustainability journey, please contact the Geneva Sustainability Center (GSC) for access to the Sustainability Accelerator tool. This initial step is essential for certification, as it involves completing the maturity assessment and addressing 19 core indicators. Once this is completed, Joint Commission International (JCI) will guide you through the requirements and the application process.
One of the key advantages of our certification program is the opportunity to join an international community of healthcare sustainability leaders. By utilizing the Sustainability Accelerator Tool, organizations access a comprehensive solution to assess hospitals’ sustainability maturity, track progress, benchmark, and gain insights to accelerate action.
Through our partnership with the Geneva Sustainability Center, which was launched by the International Hospital Federation, we aim to establish a global network for sharing best practices and resources, thereby advancing sustainability initiatives.
Achieving certification not only enhances your organization's reputation by showcasing its commitment to environmental stewardship but also provides a competitive edge in attracting and retaining talent, particularly among younger generations who value sustainability.
Healthcare organizations can position themselves as leaders in community wellness, extending their impact beyond direct patient care. This program cultivates a collaborative environment for sharing best practices and driving sustainability in healthcare.
Ultimately, these efforts are intrinsically linked to health and well-being, aligning with our respective missions and visions as healthcare leaders. The HSC program offers a structured framework to help you advance on your journey towards sustainable healthcare practices, while improving quality of care and reducing operational costs.
While many ESG platforms are designed to be industry agnostic, the SAT platform is uniquely tailored for the healthcare industry. For instance, it specifically addresses what sustainability looks like in clinical practice, ensuring that our focus remains on delivering safe and effective patient care. SAT also captures a comprehensive view of hospital environmental sustainability, by covering areas such as decarbonization, climate resilience, determinants of health and governance. This specialization sets our platform apart, as it translates sustainability principles directly into the healthcare context.
Moreover, the SAT platform enables users to benchmark and compare their progress with peers, offering a comprehensive overview of their sustainability advancements. The insights generated can be directly presented to your key stakeholders, including your board, streamlining the decision-making process and facilitating strategic planning.
Anyone is eligible to participate, and there is no requirement for your facility to be JCI accredited. To begin, you must complete the GSC’s Sustainability Accelerator Tool (SAT) maturity assessment and address 19 core indicators before applying for the HSC certification.
JCI and GSC have a strategic partnership to support you in achieving this certification Additionally, you can reach out to JCI, and we will connect you with an account manager to assist you with the application process for the HSC certification.
If you have any questions, never hesitate to reach out, we are here to help you in your sustainability journey.
Scope 1 Emissions: These are direct GHG emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by an organization. Examples include emissions from company-owned vehicles, boilers, furnaces, and other equipment that burns fossil fuels.
Scope 2 Emissions: These are indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. Although these emissions occur at the facility where the energy is generated, they are accounted for in the organization’s GHG Scope 2 inventory because they result from the organization's energy consumption.
Scope 3 Emissions: These are all other indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of the reporting healthcare organization, both upstream and downstream. This includes activities such as business travel, waste disposal, and the production of purchased good and services.
Action Items to take for a Scope 3 Emissions Analysis:
- Develop a Comprehensive Scope 3 Emissions Inventory: Identify Relevant Categories (15 Total Scope 3 Categories). Assess which of the 15 Scope 3 categories are most significant for your organization. This includes purchased goods and services, waste generated in operations, and employee commuting. Understand your current data needs. Improve data accuracy with primary data sources
- Implement Sustainable Procurement Practices
- Set Clear Criteria: Establish environmental and social responsibility criteria for suppliers. This can include requirements for sustainable materials, energy-efficient production, and fair labor practices
- Engage with Suppliers: Work closely with suppliers to ensure they understand and meet your sustainability standards. This can involve regular audits, sustainability reporting, and collaborative improvement plans.
- Leverage Technology and Data Analytics
- Advanced Analytics: Implement data analytics tools to track and analyze emissions data across the supply chain. This helps in identifying high-emission areas and opportunities for reduction
- Supply Chain Management Systems: Invest in supply chain management systems that integrate sustainability metrics, enabling real-time monitoring and reporting.
- Foster Collaboration and Transparency
- Collaborate with Stakeholders: Engage with clinicians, suppliers, and other stakeholders to sustainability goals and practices. This can include forming cross-functional teams to oversee sustainability initiatives.
- Transparent Reporting: Regularly report on Scope 3 emissions and sustainability efforts both internally and externally. Transparency builds trust and accountability among all parties involved.
When developing this certification program, we used the GHI chapter as our foundation. Our goal was to create a program that recognizes organizations going above and beyond the GHI requirements. It was important to create a continuous improvement model with the certification requirements building upon the GHI chapter. This framework showcases a pathway forward for organizations to continue their sustainability journey. The HSC program goes beyond the GHI chapter, introducing more rigorous requirements to warrant JCI certification recognition. Compliance with the GHI chapter is a strong foundation, but the HSC program's additional standards ensure that organizations meet greater levels of sustainability excellence. If you are compliant with the GHI chapter, you are well on your way to being ready for certification.
Additionally, the Sustainability Accelerator Tool (SAT) has been designed to help you measure and analyze your data and compare your progress with other organizations. As the GHI chapter is aligned with the SAT maturity assessment and indicators, access to this information is invaluable for maintaining compliance with the GHI chapter.
While the SAT tool is not required for the GHI chapter, meeting the certification requirements will undoubtedly position you well for success with the GHI standards as well.
This is a possibility, but it is an additional recognition beyond accreditation so it would be a separate event from the accreditation process.