The Madigan Healthcare System's Green Team walks the talk of sustainability. "We practice sustainable health care," said Mike Kyser, an environmental protection specialist.

That's an understatement.  

Over the past decade and a half, Madigan has partnered with Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Environment Sustainability Program and compiled an impressive and award-winning record of environmentally sound practices.

JBLM's goal is to reduce its environmental imprint to zero percent by 2025.  Madigan's "Green Team" has taken the lead in moving toward this goal. The 12-member team promotes programs designed to protect air quality, reduce energy consumption, promote livable communities, achieve zero net waste, preserve training land and treat wastewater.

The team has made notable progress. Currently, approximately 40 percent of the solid waste generated by Madigan is diverted from being put in a landfill. "We plan on doubling this rate over the next five years," Kyser said. He also pointed out that Madigan has sharpened its efforts to recycle plastic products, paper, aluminum and batteries. "We've really stepped up and met the challenge," added Linda Palmer, Chief of Environmental Services.

The key to leading Madigan to its leadership position in sustainability has been comprehensive acceptance by the facility's personnel. "This work has not happened overnight," Kyser explained. Initial efforts to create and maintain a sustainability program met with some resistance, Palmer said.

"Medical care is our number one priority," said Kyser.  "And many said they didn't have time to recycle." Working with all levels of staff, Kyser and Palmer successfully changed thinking about sustainability. "We've engaged in a major paradigm shift, and we've gotten support from the top down," Kyser said.

That shift resulted in some unique work in cleaning nearby water sources. In 1988, a Superfund groundwater study indicated that the shallow aquifer under JBLM's Logistics Center was contaminated with the solvent trichloroethylene (TCE), a chlorinated hydrocarbon used as an industrial solvent. Further tests in 2001 showed that both the shallow and deep aquifers below the center were contaminated.

A follow up feasibility study conducted in 2005 and 2006 suggested that a "pump and treat" system would be the best cleanup technology to prevent the pollution from spreading to other water users.

In short order, cooperation between Madigan's Green Team and the Fort Lewis Public Works department ensued, and they worked together to develop a novel approach to clean the underground water supply.

Simply put, pumps bring the water up from the aquifers and send it to a water treatment tower for cleaning. At this point, the solvent is stripped from the water, which is cleaned to drinking standards.  It is then pumped to Madigan, where it is used in the air conditioning system.  

The now warm water flows through the hospital gardens to the ponds in front of the hospital.  Fountains in the ponds cool the water, and the overflow soaks into the ground and returns to the groundwater system. "Everyone comes out a winner here," Kyser said.

Others think so, too. In 2010, the Madigan Healthcare System was awarded the Partner for Change, With Distinction Award, from Practice Greenhealth. The award recognizes health care facilities that have achieved measurable improvements in mercury elimination, waste reduction and pollution prevention programs.

According to its website, Practice Greenhealth is the country's leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the health care community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices.

"We've taken the lead; we promote education and a caring attitude," said Palmer. "We are a culture of positive change."