Muskogee Hospital

Environment

          Muskogee Community Hospital (MCH) is the first Hospital in the nation to earn LEED-Gold for New Construction. This recognition of energy efficiency and design allowed MCH an opportunity to improve environmental quality through green planning, design, and construction as well as operations and maintenance practices. MCH is working in accordance with the American Hospital Association’s voluntary agreement with the EPA to reduce waste volume and toxicity through green practices. MCH embraces the three principles of healthy buildings; 1) Protect the immediate health of building occupants, 2) Protect the health of the surrounding community, and 3) Protect the resources and health of the global community.

           The LEED process included many of the aspects of construction as well as facility operations. Many aspects will be studied to establish the best facility and its operations. Some of those aspects include water and energy efficiency and conservation, reduction in pollutant emissions, renewable materials, and construction waste management.

          MCH is continuing to improving techniques that have traditionally had negative effects on the indoor environment. MCH is focused on eliminating materials identified as allergens, mutagens, carcinogens and endocrine disrupters because of their profound effect on patients, staff and visitors. In addition, the hospital is climate controlled by a geothermal heating and cooling system to provide the best thermal air quality. This geothermal system very efficiently uses the earth’s sub grade temperature to begin the heating and cooling process.

          MCH also utilizes a self contained water treatment facility that will conserve water and be used for site irrigation. During construction, MCH used recycled materials to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. The recycling program continues now that the hospital is in operation. Finally, the entire MCH campus is smoke-free to provide an atmosphere that is healthy and encourages rapid patient recovery and staff productivity.

Better care for you, your community, your world.