The Joint Commission is introducing an environmental sustainability certification program that aims to lay the groundwork for decarbonization efforts in hospitals.
Beginning Jan. 1, the voluntary program will certify hospitals that prioritize environmental sustainability as a strategic goal and allocate resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative comes as the Joint Commission overhauls its accreditation standards to alleviate administrative burdens on healthcare organizations while making space for new strategic priorities.
Hospitals in the sustainability program must appoint a leader to oversee sustainability efforts, track emissions from at least three sources of greenhouse gas—fuel combustion, electricity, anesthetic gasses, pressurized metered-dose inhalers, carbon-based fuel and waste disposal—and have a plan to reduce them. Hospitals must demonstrate an overall decline in these emissions within two years of certification.
Related: Joint Commission cuts more accreditation standards
The optional certification comes after the Joint Commission considered adding environmental sustainability standards to its accreditation programs but did not after hearing industry concerns. Dr. Jonathan Perlin, president and CEO of the Joint Commission, said the agency is attempting to build consensus through education and promoting available resources.
The program will help bring uniformity to decarbonization efforts across the industry and create a forum for health systems to learn from each other. It will be administered virtually and is accessible to non-accredited organizations, he said.
“We wanted it to be a bar that's not insurmountable," Perlin said. "We wanted it to be as inclusive as possible. And so this may be relatively easy for organizations that are well into their journey, but it's a great starting place for organizations that are beginning their journey.”
Investing in sustainability will ultimately boost patient safety and help hospitals’ bottom lines, he said. For instance, hospitals can enhance patient outcomes by reducing chemical exposure and enhancing indoor air quality. Additionally, healthcare organizations can use existing tax incentives to finance renewable energy projects, leading to long-term cost reductions.
“Climate change is not only an environmental issue, but it's a health issue. It's a health equity issue,” Perlin said. “And because of the recent legislation, it's a financial opportunity.”
The Joint Commission also has launched advisory panels dedicated to environmental sustainability to review existing standards and recommend new ones. As a result, the commission has modified the wording of several accreditation standards to prevent health systems from generating unnecessary waste.
