Parkland earns renewed recognition for sustainable healthcare practices
The Joint Commission designation reflects continued efforts to reduce environmental impact
Parkland Health recently earned The Joint Commission’s Sustainable Healthcare Certification (SHC) for the second time by prioritizing environmental sustainability through decarbonization efforts. The certification demonstrates Parkland’s achievement in establishing structure, rigor and accountability to accelerate these efforts.
The healthcare industry accounts for nearly 9% of the nation’s carbon emissions. In reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, organizations commit to cost-effective and efficient operations that seek to address climate change and the impacts that climate-related events can have on individuals. Parkland was first certified in 2024.
“This recertification recognizes Parkland’s continued focus on long-term environmental stewardship,” said Rebecca Bateman, Parkland’s Director of Sustainability and Energy Conservation. “Through measurable actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we are strengthening operations while also supporting the health and well-being of our patients, staff and broader community.”
Parkland underwent a virtual review. During the review, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including the organization’s contribution toward global sustainability, its baselines for measuring three sources of GHG emissions and its actionable plans for reducing them.
“Sustainable Healthcare Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety, quality of care and environmental sustainability,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing executive, Joint Commission. “We commend Parkland Health for using Joint Commission’s certification process to enact sustainable practices and utilize resources that positively benefit patients and the environment.”
The certification cycle became effective on September 29, 2026, and is customarily valid for up to 24 months.
To help healthcare organizations achieve SHC, The Joint Commission has developed the Sustainable Healthcare Resource Center. The resource center provides practical strategies, tools, literature, videos and links.
For more information, please visit The Joint Commission’s website.
For more information about services available at Parkland, please visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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