OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwired - April 26, 2013) - Recognized as a national leader in promoting environmental stewardship through its innovative programs, Advocate Health Care has received the System for Change award from Practice Greenhealth, a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental responsibility and best practices by healthcare organizations.

The System for Change Award recognizes health systems that are working cohesively to gather data, set system goals, benchmark, and share successes in environmental performance. This is the fourth year in a row, Advocate, the largest health system in Illinois, has earned the recognition.

"Advocate's focus on environmental accountability has become part of our culture," said Mary Larsen, manager of environmental stewardship at Advocate Health Care. "Our effort to make the most efficient use of our resources ultimately benefits the patients and families we serve."

Ten Advocate hospitals also earned recognition this year receiving awards in variety of categories. Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center earned the Environmental Leadership Circle award, Practice Greenhealth's highest honor.

Environmental stewardship aligns with Advocate's mission and values. Most recently, Advocate was privileged to receive the Governor's Sustainability award from the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.

The Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards were presented in Boston, April 25, at the CleanMed Conference & Exposition -- a national environmental conference for leaders in health care sustainability.

About Advocate Health Care

Advocate Health Care, named among the nation's Top 15 health systems named by Truven Analytics in 2013, is the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest health care providers in the Midwest. Advocate operates more than 250 sites of care, including 10 acute care hospitals, the state's largest integrated children's network, five Level I trauma centers (the state's highest designation in trauma care), two Level II trauma centers, one of the area's largest home health care companies and one of the region's largest medical groups. Advocate Health Care trains more primary care physicians and residents at its four teaching hospitals than any other health system in the state. As a not-for-profit, mission-based health system affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, Advocate contributed $571 million in charitable care and services to communities across Chicagoland and Central Illinois in 2011.

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Advocate Health Care Honored for Environmental Efforts for a 4th Consecutive Year