JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Madigan Army Medical Center recently earned the coveted 2017 Greenhealth Emerald Award, which recognizes hospitals that demonstrate superior environmental sustainability programs.

Madigan was also recognized for making substantial progress in reducing the impact of its surgical environment, earning the 2017 Practice Greenhealth's Greening the Operating Room Award as well.

"Sustainability is all about new innovations, financial responsibility, eliminating waste, measurable results, and transparency in evaluating the results of all of these combined efforts," said Mike Kyser, co-chair of Madigan Green Team.

While for seven years in a row, Madigan has been awarded several of Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence awards, 2017 marks Madigan's first time receiving the highest award in the Partner for Change award echelon, the Emerald Award. Since 2010, the hospital earned the Partner for Change with Distinction Award four times, the Circle for Excellence award twice, the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award twice, and the Greenhealth Partner for Change award.

Just what is sustainability, how does it impact a military treatment facility, and what does it mean for patients, staff and visitors? A thorough understanding of this terminology and how it makes Madigan a recognized medical treatment facility in this area is the daily operation of Madigan's Green Team.

"From reprocessing and recycling of single-use devices, to the innovative reusable surgical hard cases that allow us to eliminate blue plastic wrap waste used in transporting surgical instruments, Madigan has really been tip of the spear in sustainability, thus creating new workflow models and saving thousands of taxpayer dollars per year while providing world-class health care to our patients," Kyser said.

A cultural change of embracing more environmentally-friendly practices led to the success of Madigan's green efforts.

"Our success comes from staff who supported changes toward recycling and endorsed the culture of sustainability as the capacity to meet our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs," Kyser said.

Madigan was one of 28 U.S. Army Medical Command MTFs recognized for various designations of Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence awards.