Keesler Medical Center wins sustainability award

Published May 23, 2013
By Steve Pivnick
*1st Medical Group Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Surgical Operations Squadron operating room flight has earned the Stryker Sustainability Solutions "Silver Healthy Hospital Award" for 2012, the second consecutive year they have been honored.

Joan Sullivan, the company's account manager for Keesler, presented a certificate and banners signifying the award to the flight May 8.

Sullivan said, "Healthy Hospital Awards are presented to fewer than 5 percent of the hospitals across the United States. Hospitals selected for a Healthy Hospital Award are invested in environmental and financial health-care sustainability without compromising top-quality health care. In the past year, Keesler Medical Center has removed more than 4,500 pounds of biohazard medical waste that would have gone to landfills while saving the hospital system more than $87,000, funds that can be dedicated to patient care and new technology."

Maj. Wendy Wilkins, who oversees the flight's recycling program, said the flight also participated in the "Go Green" program, saving the Air Force $229,000 and the program's success has led to it being named an Air Education and Training Command "Best Practice," with current savings of more than $271,000.

"We earned unit recognition during the Commander in Chief Installation Excellence Award team evaluation and were 'Environmental Hero Award' winners for 2012. We also played a role in Keesler Air Force Base being selected for the 'Recycler of the Year' award in the state/federal government category."

She noted more than 200 pounds of a specific surgical instrument that weighs 3-5 ounces have been recycled annually.

Reprocessing certain surgical items and disposal of biohazard waste has paid dividends.

"We have not had to increase our budget since 2003," Wilkins said. "This has given us the ability to buy back items at one-third the cost of a new item and remain within our budgets."