Preservation of the Earth

In 2007, SSM Health Care facilities recycled more than 6.6 million pounds of materials. That total reflected SSM's heritage of non-violence, including its commitment to preserving our earth and its resources. In 1990, SSM President/CEO Sister Mary Jean Ryan, FSM, required every SSM facility to establish a Preservation of the Earth Committee (POE). She was inspired to act by her religious congregation's commitment to non-violence and a photo she had seen of a polluted harbor. She not only established the POE committees but also banned the use of Styrofoam cups throughout the system -- SSM's first bold step in taking better care of the earth.

“We have learned that we cannot apply the most advanced medical technology to cure people’s illnesses and then send them home to heal in an unhealthy environment,” Sister Mary Jean says.

POE committees raise awareness about what we can do personally and what our organization can do to tread lightly on our earth. POEs provide earth-friendly education and encouragement to employees to follow the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

SSM facilities recycle paper, cardboard, aluminum/steel cans, glass and plastic. But our efforts extend beyond that. At St. Mary’s Health Center in Jefferson City, Mo., the emergency department maintains a closet where donated coats are “recycled” to patients who need a coat. At the Corporate Office in St. Louis, landscaping is done primarily with native plants.