HealthPartners joins the Health Care Climate Council

Minnesota health system is newest member of national climate leadership group

CHICAGO – Displaying continued commitment to the health of its patients, members, colleagues and communities, HealthPartners has signed on as the newest member of the U.S. Health Care Climate Council. Based in Bloomington, Minnesota, HealthPartners is the largest consumer governed nonprofit health care system in the country, and the first organization in the state to join the council.

HealthPartners serves more than 1.5 million medical and dental health plan members nationwide and 1 million patients, with more than 50 primary care clinics and six hospitals. The organization has integrated a comprehensive set of sustainability initiatives into its operations. HealthPartners was chosen by Practice Greenhealth as a winner of the 2016 Practice Greenhealth System for Change Award, an honor recognizing health systems that are working to set system-wide sustainability goals, track data, and share successes in environmental performance. The organization has also been honored with the 2014 UHC Sustainability Award for exemplary sustainability strategy, and was the recipient of a state award from the Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation for leadership in sustainability. HealthPartners has made particular strides in reducing paper use, managing food waste, and improving energy efficiency.

“Our mission to improve health and well-being is directly tied to a commitment to sustainability,” said Dana Slade, Director of Sustainability at HealthPartners. “We have a responsibility to our patients and members, our communities, and future generations to create cleaner, healthier environments. We’re proud to join the council to further this vision with other committed organizations.”

This commitment from HealthPartners comes as the Health Care Climate Council convenes its semiannual meeting in Chicago. Established by Health Care Without Harm, the Health Care Climate Council is a leadership network of hospitals committed to strengthening the health sector’s response to climate change. The Council’s mission is to amplify public and private responses to climate change by: accelerating investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency; scaling the health sector’s adoption of climate change mitigation and resiliency programs; and advocating for local, state, and national policies that ensure a sustainable and healthy future consistent with our collective vision for healthy individuals and communities.