Mt. Vernon, IL– Although the official ceremony will not take place until mid-June, SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital is excited to announce their very own Howard Jones is the winner of the SSM Health Innovation Award.  With over 35,000 employees, Jones was up against stiff competition. Jones is recognized for innovation involving sustained optimization of heating, ventilation and air conditioning which reduces energy waste, increases occupant health and productivity, and decreases carbon dioxide emissions.  The improvements were initially funded in part with utility incentives and sustained using system analytics software and processes that look deep into how the facilities are running and identifies issues that are not normally caught which also includes savings in energy costs.  This systematic process can be replicated at any hospital facility.  The formal ceremony will take place in St. Louis in June where Jones will receive formal recognition for his and his teams’ efforts at SSM Health in Illinois.