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MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY OVERVIEW

MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY OVERVIEW. Damon V. Cardenas Chief, Environmental Management HQ MEDCOM COMM (210) 221-7988/DSN471-7988. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY MISSION – TSG Challenges (13 Dec 07). “Sustain”: Implementation of the Army Family Covenant

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MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY OVERVIEW

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  1. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY OVERVIEW Damon V. Cardenas Chief, Environmental Management HQ MEDCOM COMM (210) 221-7988/DSN471-7988

  2. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY MISSION – TSG Challenges (13 Dec 07) • “Sustain”: Implementation of the Army Family Covenant • “Prepare”: Building and sustaining a comprehensive, life-cycle management approach • “Reset”: Execution of the Army Medical Action Plan • “Transform”: Deliver the maximum value in healthcare and other services

  3. MEDCOM SustainabilityProgram Overview • Emerging MEDCOM program – MTF focus • Ensure MEDCOM is proactive in addressing potential encumbrances (25 yrs into the future) • Theme: Sustain the Mission – Secure the Future • Triple Bottom Line – Plus: Mission, Environmental, Community and Economic Success • Multidisciplinary Approach – All directorates • Funding requested for: baseline data, marketing, assessment of Best Management Practices, planning, implementation

  4. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY Proposed MEDCOM Sustainability Strategy • Vision - To meet current as well as future mission requirements worldwide, safeguard human health, improve quality of life, and enhance the natural environment • Mission - Reduce life cycle costs, Minimize adverse impacts, Enhance human health, safety, and well-being, Be an active citizen within our communities, do more and do it better • Goals – Minimize impacts and total ownership costs, Enhance the well-being of our Soldiers, civilians, families, neighbors and communities through leadership in sustainability Health Care Industry Leader in Sustainability

  5. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY National Health Care Footprint • 16% of U.S. economy devoted to healthcare • $6,500/person/yr ($2 trillion in 2005) • 4% of national square footage • 4th Highest energy user by building type • Consumes 8% of national energy • 5 Million tons of waste/year • Regulated Medical Waste • 750,000 tons/yr (MEDCOM = 1,500 tons/yr) • Largest source of dioxin air pollution • 10% of mercury air emissions

  6. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY On-Going Initiatives • Product Substitution: • Mercury - Completed CONUS hospital inventory. Two Hospitals (TAMC & MAMC) received award for virtual mercury elimination. • Hand Sanitizer – Change in alcohol content changes waste classification • Operation Issues: • CONUS RMW contract, economies of scale • Reprocessing of surgical equipment, standardization • RMW – Sharps processing, reusable containers • Vyleater – HIPPA Compliance/Waste reduction • Process Change: • Ethylene Oxide Sterilizers – All removed from hospitals • Regulated Medical Waste Incinerators - All hospital incinerators closed • X-Ray Wet Chemical Processing – Converting to Digital imaging Systems • Engineering Controls: • Recycling/Re-utilization - of Hazardous materials, such as xylene and formaldehyde • Implement available strategies – decreased energy consumption

  7. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITYLEED PROGRAM • Army directive - LEED Silver • Program elements • Optimize Site Potential • Optimize Energy Use • Protect & Conserve Water • Use Environmental Preferable Materials • Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality • Optimize O & M Practices (standardization) • Less than 3% of healthcare facilities sought LEED certification (CY06) • Actual benefits - 6% of the 2.5M healthcare patients each year afflicted with hospital acquired infection attributed to design/construction/O&M practices • "It costs a lot of money to build a poor hospital, and only a little more to build a better hospital." - architect Robin Guenther

  8. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY Community • Patient perception - decrease stress, increase comfort, quicker recovery • Employee perception - 90% of hospital operating cost is on salaries, retain people • Public perception - good neighbor/public comment • Actual issues – e.g. WRAIR noise Notice of Violation • Participate in non-DoD environmental organizations (Energy Star Recognition, EPA Performance Track/Lab 21/Practice Green Health)

  9. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY Benefits • Minimize adverse impacts to mission • Safer/Healthier working environment • Decrease in staff turn-over • Reduction in hazardous materials usage • Waste stream reduction • Reduced facility life cycle costs • Enhanced environmental management • Positive community relations

  10. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILTY WAY AHEAD • Procurement • Hazardous Materials Management Program • Green Procurement • Implement institutional changes of Best Management Practices (Standardization) • Survey community opinion • Infrastructure analysis • Contingency planning • Regulatory surveillance

  11. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM WAY AHEAD - Programs • Improve Waste Management • Conduct hospital waste management studies • Mercury phase out to continue • Solid waste diversion • Implement LEED Silver Criteria • New construction • Existing building • Implement Energy and Water conservation initiatives • Energy facility audits • Energy Star Portfolio • Energy Conservation Investment Program (ECIP)

  12. MEDCOM SUSTAINABILTY Way Ahead • Assess Impacts/Aspects • Collect baseline information (surveys/plans/materials) • Develop/Implement strategy (marketing) • Develop/Formalize MEDCOM Sustainability Policy • Implement initiatives

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