Tenet Healthcare's board of directors has created a committee to track the hospital giant's impact on environmental, social and governance issues, the company announced on Saturday.
The committee chair will be Richard Fisher, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Other members include former surgeon general of the U.S. Army, Dr. Nadja West, and Richard Mark, chairman and president of Ameren Illinois Cos., according to a press release.
Tenet defined ESG matters as climate change, energy and natural resources conservation, environmental and supply chain sustainability, human rights, and diversity and inclusion.
"We are pleased to stand up this new committee of our Board focused entirely on the business and societal impacts of ESG," Tenet CEO and Executive Chairman Ron Rittenmeyer said in a prepared statement. "While our responsibility lies, first and foremost, with the delivery of excellent medical care that is safe and compassionate, we equally embrace our commitment to cultivate a sustainable environment and an inclusive culture. We believe that our people, operations, facilities management and governance must align properly to generate sustainable business practices for the betterment of all stakeholders we serve."
Among the priorities Tenet has set are:
- Elevating employees by providing support, career advancement opportunities and a culture that embraces inclusivity. This includes the launch of a new Diversity Council and Employee Resource Groups, along with activities focused on talent development and employee recognition.
- Minimizing Tenet's impact on the environment with dedicated sustainability programs being formalized this year. The Company is cementing its commitment to environmental sustainability by setting new goals and standards, recruiting leadership with expertise in this area and maintaining accountability through active reporting and measurement.
- Giving back to its communities in support of local and national causes. The Company continues to demonstrate its passion for serving the underserved through many efforts, including those that focus on fighting hunger, investing in the education pipeline, aiding the safety net population and responding to natural disasters and tragedies.
- Ensuring effective governance to maintain proper alignment between its business and social purposes. In addition to Board refreshment of more than 70 percent since Oct. 2017, Tenet operates under sound governance practices aligned to the interests of shareholders and other company stakeholders.
Tenet is based in Dallas, Tex. and employs 113,000 people, according to the company. In 2019, the company drew $18.5 billion in revenue.