Weston Launches Sustainable Healthcare Practice

Weston Solutions, Inc., a leader in environmental, sustainable, and energy solutions, property redevelopment, and design/build construction, is putting its expertise to work to help healthcare organizations attain their sustainability goals.

A new WESTON specialty team will design and implement sustainable systems and practices in hospitals worldwide. While the demand for sustainability within healthcare facilities is strong and growing, many organizations are overwhelmed by the broad spectrum of possibilities and unclear about how to maximize their Return on Investment (ROI) in sustainability initiatives. As a result of 50 years of experience helping organizations of all types address their toughest environmental and sustainability challenges, WESTON has developed an approach that focuses on: 1) holistic approaches that integrate across media (e.g. water, air, solid waste) and infrastructure types; 2) combining consulting with implementation to provide solutions, not recommendations; and 3) aligning programs with strategic business objectives to maximize ROI.

Through its work with Army hospitals under a recently renewed contract with the United States Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) worldwide, WESTON identified a growing need for guidance with hospital sustainability initiatives. To further its understanding, WESTON conducted studies of major health systems throughout the United States. WESTON's research revealed that healthcare facilities have a strong desire to adopt sustainability practices. Yet few are taking a comprehenive approach to planning and managing those programs, an approach that yields a true triple-bottom line benefit of people-planet-profit.

WESTON's new healthcare sustainability practice, led by Anna Gilmore Hall - a pioneer in the greening of healthcare - will evaluate programs and options strategically to help each healthcare system devise its most effective plan. Until recently Gilmore Hall was the executive director of Practice Greenhealth, the nation's leading membership and networking organization for green healthcare.

Gilmore Hall said the opportunity to apply her passion and experience to helping hospitals tailor and implement sustainability programs is a dream come true. The new WESTON team is a unique resource that will help hospitals reduce their costs and environmental footprint while prioritizing patient care.

“I'm delighted to focus WESTON's vast technical resources on bringing sustainable practices to the healthcare community,” said Gilmore Hall. “Sustainability is now seen as a natural facet of quality patient care as well as sound management. It's incredibly fulfilling to partner with healthcare organizations to help them make the most of the myriad of sustainability options available to them while ensuring a healthy return on their investment.”