ST. LOUIS - Four years ago, SSM Health Care became the largest health system in the nation to go tobacco free inside and out to create healthier environments for patients. Since then, hundreds of hospitals and other health facilities across the nation have followed suit. Once again, SSM is stepping out on an environmental issue. This time, it is eliminating bottled water from all its facilities effective June 1. The system purchases more than half a million bottles of water annually for employees, patients and guests.

SSM Health Care is one of the largest Catholic health systems in the country and owns, manages and is affiliated with 20 acute care hospitals and two nursing homes in four states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma. SSM has more than 24,000 employees.

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In eliminating bottled water, SSM joins a number of cities that have made a similar commitment, including San Francisco, Minneapolis, Seattle and Salt Lake City. A growing number of restaurants are eliminating bottled water, yet few if any health- care organizations have made a similar commitment.

SSM President/CEO Sister Mary Jean Ryan said the move supports the stance of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, the congregation that sponsors SSM Health Care.  As part of its commitment to nonviolence, the congregation vows to “respect, appreciate and live in harmony with creation and direct our actions to preserve the earth.” (www.fsmonline.org)

“One of the biggest problems with bottled water is that it takes fossil fuels to produce the bottles,” Sister Mary Jean said. “And then more fossil fuels are used to transport the bottles to their final destination.”

“Eliminating bottled water is a contribution we can make as a system to protect our fragile environment,” she said.

Read more about SSM’s commitment to preserving the earth.

Listen to Sister Mary Jean Ryan as she talks to HealthLeaders Magazine about the system's decision to stop offering bottled water at its 20 facilities.