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Healthcare Sustainability Certification

Many healthcare organizations are reducing their carbon footprints in response to adverse effects to the environment caused by excess waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Greener healthcare practices provide meaningful, lasting health and operational benefits. Learn how Joint Commission International (JCI) and the Geneva Sustainable Centre (GSC) support healthcare organizations on their journeys toward sustainable healthcare.
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Why Sustainability in Healthcare Matters

Extreme events worsen chronic health conditions, especially for disadvantaged groups, making climate change a health equity issue. These events also disrupt healthcare operations, affecting patient safety, care quality, and costs.

To help healthcare organizations become more resilient and sustainable, JCI has jointly developed the Healthcare Sustainability Certification (HSC) program in collaboration with the International Hospital Federation’s Geneva Sustainability Centre (GSC). The industry-leading program is designed to empower and guide a healthcare organization on its journey to achieve sustainability and climate resilience.

JCI-GSC Healthcare Sustainability Certification Benefits

The HSC program is available to healthcare organizations that meet the eligibility criteria. The Healthcare Sustainability Certification requirements offer an advanced framework that expands on the Global Health Impact Chapter from JCI’s 8th edition Accreditation Standards for Hospitals and Academic Medical Centers. These requirements enhance the foundational goals established in the 8th edition by incorporating advanced metrics for carbon emissions, resource management, leadership involvement, employee engagement, and climate resiliency. Achieving Healthcare Sustainability Certification is not only beneficial for the environment but also for the organization's bottom line, patient outcomes, reputation, and compliance efforts. It aligns health care organizations with sustainable practices and positions them as mindful and responsible care providers in an increasingly environmentally conscious world.
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Environmental Impact

HSC encourages healthcare organizations to focus on reducing their environmental impact by implementing energy-efficient practices. By achieving sustainability goals, organizations can contribute to broader efforts of environmental conservation and preservation.
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Cost Savings

By implementing energy-efficient technologies and optimizing waste management strategies, healthcare organizations can achieve operational efficiencies that result in cost reductions. These savings can then be redirected to patient care, infrastructure improvements, research, and other critical areas.
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Improved Health Outcomes

Sustainable practices within healthcare organizations can lead to improved health outcomes for patients, staff, and the community. By reducing chemical exposures, improving air quality, and implementing infection control measures, organizations create healthier environments that promote healing, and prevent the transmission of diseases.
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Enhanced Reputation and Community Engagement

Recognition from the leading global healthcare accrediting body adds credibility and demonstrates a commitment to responsible and ethical practices. This not only enhances an organization’s reputation in the community but also attracts patients, employees, and stakeholders who prioritize sustainable healthcare options.
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Regulatory Compliance and Risk Mitigation

Sustainability programs may require compliance with regional environmental regulations. By achieving and maintaining HSC, organizations may confirm that they are meeting their legal obligations. Moreover, sustainability practices can help mitigate environmental, societal, and financial risks, assuring that hospitals are prepared to adapt to changing regulatory landscapes and potential disruptions.

What It Takes to Be Certified

Healthcare organizations that are interested in achieving JCI-GSC Healthcare Sustainability Certification must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be located outside of the United States and its territories.
  • Hold a facility license or registration to conduct its scope of services, if required by law.
  • Operate as a healthcare provider in the country and be licensed to provide care and treatment, if necessary.
  • Complete GSC’s Sustainability Accelerator Tool (SAT) maturity assessment and submit data for required core indicators.
  • Use information from the SAT to analyze and improve processes.

What to Expect: Healthcare Sustainability Certification Process

JCI-GSC HSC process is flexible and designed to meet each healthcare organization’s unique needs. Highlights include:

  • Trusted resources and expert help to interpret standards and prepare for certification.
  • Objective assessment by an expert JCI team against well-defined standards, survey guidelines, and performance data.
  • Flexible scheduling that coordinates survey timing with other program-specific surveys and geographical considerations.
  • Remote survey delivery via videoconference technology.
  • Expert JCI surveyors focusing on collaboration, solution-driven approaches, and local clinical and operational practices.
  • HSC Final Survey Findings Report providing data-driven insights to identify and prioritize potential risks for continuous improvement.
  • Certification decision based on survey results.
  • Clear understanding of your organization’s sustainability maturity, with guidance to improve, set goals, and develop strategies using the GSC’s Sustainability Accelerator Tool.

We're Here to Help

We’re here to support you at each step in your journey to develop and improve your sustainability program. The JCI and GSC teams are available to help you get started and answer any questions you might have about this program.

GSC focuses on equipping hospital leaders with the skills, knowledge, and tools to actively address the climate crisis as part of every aspect of health service delivery. The Sustainability Accelerator Tool (SAT) is a digital solution designed specifically for hospital and healthcare executives to advance sustainability in their organization.

Sustainability Accelerator Tool

Prepare for JCI-GSC HSC with JCI’s Standards Manual. Evidence-based JCI-GSC HSC standards provide the basis for healthcare organization certification throughout the world. HSC supplies organizations with information to pursue or maintain environmental sustainability practices that advance patient safety, performance improvement, and an organization’s certified status, beginning 1 January 2025.

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Our partner, Geneva Sustainability Centre has tools and resources which are designed to enable healthcare leaders to start, and chart, their sustainability journey with confidence.

GSC Toolbox