Practice Greenhealth Lands Five MTFs for Sustainability Excellence

By Tammy Ford, MEDCOM Environmental Compliance OfficeJuly 2, 2014

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Practice Greenhealth (PGH) recently recognized five military treatment facilities (MTFs) for sustainability achievements. Awards were presented at the CleanMed 2014 Conference held in early June in Cleveland, Ohio. The annual PGH Awards recognize hospitals and healthcare organizations that are protecting patient, staff and community health, as well as the environment. This year marks the fifth straight year that MEDCOM MTFs have received PGH awards.

PGH is the leading nonprofit organization advocating for environmental stewardship and resource efficiency in healthcare.

Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC) received the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award and Circles of Excellence Awards for Leadership, Chemicals, Greening the OR, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, and Green Building. In 2013, MAMC recycled 754 tons of material, up from 640 tons in 2012. In 2012 and 2013, MAMC captured the Environmental Leadership Circle Award, the only federal hospital to receive this honor. In 2014, the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award replaced the Environmental Leadership Circle as PGH's highest honor for hospitals.

Evans Army Community Hospital (EACH) received the Emerald Partner for Change and the Climate Circle of Excellence awards. The Emerald Award is competitive and recognizes facilities for improvements in mercury elimination, waste reduction, recycling, and source reduction. In 2013, solar power provided 14 percent of the energy used at EACH. In 2012, EACH earned the Making Medicine Mercury-Free and Partner for Change awards; in 2013 EACH earned the Partner for Change with Distinction award.

Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital (BJACH) received the Partner for Change Award, which it also received in 2013. The Partner for Change Award recognizes healthcare facilities that have implemented a significant number of environmental programs, and continuously improve and expand upon these programs. In 2013, BJACH replaced polystyrene foam cups and to-go containers in the dining facility with biodegradable cups and containers.

Moncrief Army Community Hospital (MACH) earned the Partner for Change Award for the third straight year, and also received the Making Medicine Mercury-Free Award in recognition of virtually eliminating mercury from their facility. In 2013, MACH demonstrated a marked increase in recycling for the fourth straight year.

Reynolds Army Community Hospital (RACH) received three awards: Partner Recognition, Making Medicine Mercury-Free, and the DEHP-Free Award. In 2013, RACH reduced the amount of hazardous waste sent for disposal by 35 percent through filtering and recycling chemicals in the laboratory. The Partner Recognition Award is given to healthcare facilities that have begun to work on environmental improvements and have at least a 10 percent recycling rate. The DEHP-Free award is competitive, and is given to the one hospital demonstrating the most success with replacing medical devices containing Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) with safer alternatives. RACH is the first federal facility to receive

the DEHP-Free Award.

Related Links:

Official Website of U.S. Army Medical Command