UCI Medical Center earns Sustainable Healthcare Certification from The Joint Commission

Academic health system’s flagship hospital is first UC, fourth healthcare organization in state to be certified

ORANGE, Calif. — UCI Medical Center, the flagship location of UCI Health, has earned The Joint Commission’s Sustainable Healthcare Certification. It is the first University of California hospital and fourth healthcare organization in the state to be certified.

Recognition from The Joint Commission demonstrates the achievement of UCI Health, powered by UC Irvine, in establishing structure, rigor and accountability to accelerate its sustainability efforts.

“UCI Health is proud to have achieved this milestone certification as a forever organization that is leading the healthcare industry in building a model that is sustainable and resilient to climate change,” says Nathan Shinagawa, chief operating officer and senior vice president at UCI Health. “As one of the largest academic health systems in the state, we are proud to answer the call.”

“Certification from The Joint Commission is an important validation of the enormous strides UCI Health has made toward answering the urgent call to build a model of healthcare that is sustainable for generations to come,” adds Tony Dover, energy management and sustainability officer at UCI Health.

"The health of our patients and environment are critically linked, so we are committed to building a healthier future for Orange County and California.”

Commitment to sustainability and decarbonization

UCI Health is a proud leader in sustainability initiatives and innovation. In 2022, the health system signed The White House/Department of Health & Human Services Health Sector Climate Pledge. In signing the pledge, UCI Health has committed to climate resilience and emissions reduction that includes cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. UCI Health successfully reduced its overall emissions by 43% since 2019.

Its commitment has driven progress in numerous other areas, including :

• Reducing operating room emissions. In 2021, it eliminated the use of desflurane, an inhaled anesthetic gas with the highest global warming potential. Decommissioned central piped nitrous oxide and reduced usage more than 75% since 2021.
• Reducing energy use and generating clean power. UCI Health reduced its energy use intensity by 2.4% in 2023 exceeding its annual goal of 2%, implemented a peak load shifting strategy and installed a 1.9MW battery storage system. It also decommissioned a fossil fuel cogeneration plant, reducing natural gas consumption by more than 30%.
• Purchased electricity. UCI Health has achieved its goal of purchasing 100% clean electricity by 2025 through the UC Clean Power Program.

Nation’s first all-electric hospital

This winter, the nation’s first all-electric hospital will open on the UCI Health — Irvine campus, a state-of-the-art, 144-bed acute care facility with a 24-hour emergency department.

The hospital, along with the Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care building, are powered by an advanced,

45,000-square-foot central utilities plant that uses no carbon combustion or natural gas.

Certification review process

The healthcare industry accounts for nearly 9% of the nation’s carbon emissions. In reducing greenhouse gas 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.

UCI Medical Center underwent a virtual review in April 2025. During the review, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification standards including the organization’s contribution toward global sustainability, its baselines for measuring three sources of greenhouse gas 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 officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend UCI Health for using The Joint Commission’s certification process to enact sustainable practices and utilize resources that positively benefit patients and the environment.”

For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.