Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Earns New Joint Commission Sustainability Award
With support from Compass One Healthcare, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab has reached another milestone in its commitment to environmental stewardship.
The Chicago-based rehabilitation hospital, renowned for treating patients with stroke, spinal cord, and brain injuries, has earned The Joint Commission’s new Sustainability Healthcare Certification. It is the first hospital in Illinois, and the first rehabilitation hospital in the nation, to achieve this recognition.
At the center of this effort is Lamar Davis, General Manager of Compass One Healthcare at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Known as the hospital’s “sustainability guru,” Davis has overseen sustainability initiatives since the facility opened eight years ago. He coordinates efforts across Compass One’s service lines, including Environmental Services, Food and Nutrition Services, Facilities Management, and Clinical Engineering.
“Many of the sustainability programs in the Compass One portfolio served as the backbone for our client’s success in achieving this certification,” said Carter Berry, Regional Director of Operations. “Lamar has extensive knowledge of these programs and worked closely with the hospital’s leadership to accomplish everything needed to achieve certification.”
Helping the Client Achieve Sustainability
From the hospital’s opening in 2017, sustainability has been a core value. Early efforts included measuring CO2 emissions and setting benchmarks to guide long-term improvements. Since then, energy use, carbon emissions, and waste generation have significantly decreased. Recycling continues to expand, and leadership is exploring renewable energy options, including wind and solar power.
When The Joint Commission announced its new sustainability certification program in January 2024, Davis immediately saw an opportunity.
“We’ve had a sustainability program since the hospital opened, and this certification helped us take a fresh look at our efforts and make them even stronger,” he said.
With approval from hospital leadership, Davis led the work of compiling data, drafting a Sustainability Strategic Plan and Operations Plan, and guiding both through board review. Certification was finalized in January 2025.
More Improvements Ahead
Looking forward, Davis and his team are committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 3–5% by 2030. Each service line has set specific goals to support this work:
Environmental Services: Improve recycling by 5% through staff education, compliance audits, and targeted reminders.
Food Services: Launch hospital-wide composting and train nursing staff to divert patient food waste from the general trash.
Clinical Engineering: Increase battery recycling with staff training, trash audits, and an IT partnership for proper disposal.
Facilities Management: Reduce energy use by 2% (stretch goal: 5%) through utility monitoring, new technologies, and nighttime setbacks at off-site facilities.
Meeting Long-Term Goals
These steps will move the hospital closer to its overarching goal: reducing its carbon footprint by 40% by 2030. Plans include reducing energy consumption by 15%, doubling recycling rates from 20% to 40%, and increasing the use of renewable energy sources.
The certification is valid through 2027, at which time The Joint Commission will review progress toward these goals.
“We are always proud to help the hospital achieve success and be recognized as a leader,” Berry said. “With Lamar working closely with senior leadership, we will continue building a sustainability program that can serve as a model for other hospitals.”
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