Dignity Health Mercy Hospital of Folsom has received national recognition for its environmental sustainability efforts, earning the 2026 Practice Greenhealth Champion Award.
The award honors healthcare organizations that demonstrate leadership in environmental sustainability and climate resilience through initiatives that reduce environmental impact while supporting community health.
According to Dignity Health, the Practice Greenhealth Champion Award recognizes superior performance across a broad range of sustainability efforts, including waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, environmentally responsible purchasing practices, healthy food programs and chemical reduction initiatives.
Mercy Hospital of Folsom was one of five Dignity Health hospitals in the Sacramento region to receive the 2026 Champion Award. Other hospitals recognized included Mercy San Juan Medical Center, Woodland Memorial Hospital, Methodist Hospital of Sacramento and Mercy General Hospital.
The recognition reflects Dignity Health’s broader sustainability goals as part of the CommonSpirit Health Climate Action Plan. The organization has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and reducing operational emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
“Receiving the 2026 Practice Greenhealth Champion Award is a meaningful recognition of Mercy Hospital of Folsom’s commitment to caring for both people and the environment,” said Greg Rold. “Environmental stewardship is an extension of our healing mission. By incorporating sustainable practices into our daily operations, we are helping create a healthier future for our patients, our community and future generations.”
Hospital officials said the award reflects the organization’s commitment to integrating sustainability into daily operations while continuing to provide high-quality patient care.
Practice Greenhealth CEO Emily Bancroft said healthcare organizations are increasingly recognizing the connection between environmental responsibility and public health.
“The health care sector is claiming its role as a guardian of public health by refusing to contribute to the problem,” Bancroft said. “Sustainability isn’t a side project – it’s a core business strategy that drives resilience, saves money and, most importantly, fulfills our mission to heal.”
She added that organizations such as Mercy Hospital of Folsom are helping shape the future of healthcare through environmental stewardship.
“The health care system of the future – one that heals both the patient and the planet – is being built right here by Dignity Health Mercy Hospital of Folsom,” Bancroft said.
Practice Greenhealth is a national membership organization that supports hospitals and healthcare facilities committed to sustainable and environmentally responsible practices through resources, tools and technical assistance.
Dignity Health California operates a network of hospitals, clinics and care centers throughout the state and is part of CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic healthcare systems.
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