The MHH is in the running with projects in the categories “Shaping care” and “Protecting the environment”.
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For the 18th time this year, pioneers of sustainable change will be honored with the German Sustainability Award (Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis, DNP). Two projects from Hannover Medical School (MHH) have been nominated for the DNP Health: the initiative “The Pediatric Intensive Care Network PIN” and the project “Realizing co-benefits for health and climate in a university hospital with foresight on the plate”. With the nomination, the jury confirms that the MHH is one of the drivers of transformation in the healthcare sector.
Better care for critically ill children
The “PIN Pediatric Intensive Care Network” initiative has been nominated in the “Shaping care” category. It aims to improve care for critically ill children and young people by networking specialist intensive care centers in northern Germany. The initiative pools expertise, resources and capacities in such a way that young patients with complex medical conditions can be treated optimally and close to home.
The PIN is now a network of 53 pediatric clinics from all over Lower Saxony, Bremen, parts of Saxony-Anhalt, North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse, as well as a few clinics from more distant federal states. The medical and logistical center of the PIN is the Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine at the MHH. To date, more than 6000 children and adolescents have been treated. Close cooperation between pediatric intensive care physicians, the development of common standards and the use of digital communication channels for rapid coordination and transfer have led to a lasting improvement in the quality of care.
Sustainable nutrition is twice as good
The project “Realizing co-benefits for health and climate in a university hospital with foresight on the plate” designs both patient and staff catering in a healthy and sustainable way. To this end, seven permanent positions have been created at the MHH and self-trained dieticians have been integrated into clinical departments. In addition, a consultant provides multipliers by training trainees for medical assistants.
Since 2023, the central kitchen at MHH has been implementing measures for greater sustainability, such as a higher proportion of plant-based, regional and seasonal products and a reduction in food waste. The project improves the health of patients and employees, measurably reduces greenhouse gas emissions and makes an important contribution to the sustainable transformation of the healthcare sector.
Award ceremony in December
The DNP Health recognizes initiatives and projects that provide answers to the challenges of the future in the area of public services by contributing to greater ecological, economic and social sustainability in the system through the innovative and efficient design of structures and processes in healthcare. The award ceremony will take place in Düsseldorf in December 2025.
Text: Stabsstelle Kommunikation