Army Military Treatment Facilities Honored for Sustainability Excellence

By MEDCOM Sustainability TeamMay 22, 2015

Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX -- Several Army military treatment facilities (MTFs) were honored for their sustainability achievements and practices at the CleanMed 2015 Conference held recently in Portland, Oregon. 2015 marks the sixth straight year for Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) MTFs to receive Practice Greenhealth (PGH) Awards. Practice Greenhealth (PGH) is the leading non-profit organization advocating for environmental stewardship and resource efficiency in healthcare.

The annual PGH Awards recognize hospitals and healthcare organizations that are protecting patient, staff and community health, as well as the environment. PGH recently recognized eight Army military treatment facilities (MTFs) for sustainability achievements.

Evans Army Community Hospital (EACH) once again received the Emerald Partner for Change Award. The Emerald Award is competitive and recognizes facilities for improvements in mercury elimination, waste reduction, recycling and source reduction. 2014, EACH instituted a policy to eliminate the purchase of exam gloves and enteral nutrition products containing PVC plastic. 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, and in 2014 received the Emerald and Climate Circle of Excellence awards.

Bassett Army Community Hospital received the Greenhealth Partner for Change Award and the Circle of Excellence for Energy. This is the first PGH award earned by Bassett. Although Bassett is one of the newer facilities within MEDCOM, the facility has taken an aggressive approach to improving energy conservation beyond the initial building design specifications. Lighting upgrades at Bassett separated drivers and heat sinks, allowing the use of LED lighting and reducing energy use by 23%. By providing a path for heat from the LED source to an outside medium, the heat sinks allow the LED lighting to run at lower temperatures, increasing efficiency, reliability, and lifespan.

Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital (BJACH) received the Greenhealth Partner for Change Award, which it also earned in 2013 and 2014. 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 2014, BJACH reformulated 58% of the kits used in the operating room (OR), saving over $458,000 in avoided purchasing costs and waste disposal savings.

Blanchfield Army Community Hospital received the Greenhealth Partner for Change Award. Blanchfield previously won the Partner Recognition Award in 2012. The Blanchfield Nutrition Care Division championed installation of a healing garden in a highly visible location next to a main MTF entrance. The garden includes both in-ground and raised bed plantings, shade trees, and a gazebo. Over 70% of the plantings in the garden are edible. To educate patrons on the benefits of locally grown foods, fresh from the garden vegetables are prepared and provided free of charge in the dining facility (DFAC).

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC) received the Greenhealth Partner for Change Award. Previously, CRDAMC received the Partner for Change Award in 2012. In 2014, CRDAMC implemented a Greening the OR program which diverts pre-incision waste from the regulated medical waste (RMW) stream, actively segregates non-infectious solid waste from RMW, and recycles medical plastics.

Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC) received the Greenhealth Partner for Change Award. MAMC captured the Environmental Leadership Circle award in 2012 and 2013 and was the only federal facility to receive this honor. In 2014, MAMC earned the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award and 5 Circles of Excellence awards in Leadership, Chemicals, Greening the OR, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, and Green Building. In 2014, MAMC recycled 660 tons of material.

Reynolds Army Community Hospital (RACH) received the Greenhealth Partner for Change Award. Reynolds received both the Partner Recognition Award and the DEHP di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate -Free Award in 2014. In 2014, RACH eliminated the sale of bottled water and the use of polystyrene containers in the DFAC.

Winn Army Community Hospital (WACH) received the Partner for Change Award. Winn ACH received the Partner Recognition Award in 2012. In 2014, WACH increased the amount of solar power generated on site. Solar modules at WACH now save the facility 336,139 kilowatt hours annually. These savings allow the lighting load for outpatient clinics to be run off the grid.

The MEDCOM Sustainability Strategy

As part of its drive to "go green", the Army Medical Command Sustainability Strategy establishes sustainability goals and metrics to track and measure progress. The MEDCOM Sustainability Strategy focuses on:

1. Establishment of Sustainability Teams at HQ MEDCOM and at all MEDCOM MTFs

2. Improving waste management practices, including:

- Reducing the amount of solid, regulated medical waste, and hazardous waste generated

- Increasing recycling

- Weighing and tracking all waste and recycling to allow assessment of progress towards MEDCOM Sustainability Strategy goals

- Maximizing energy conservation

- Improving water conservation

- Institutionalizing environmentally preferable purchasing

Related Links:

Army Medicine

Army Medicine Sustainability