Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) - Miami VA Healthcare System
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Miami VA Healthcare System

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Green Environmental Management System (GEMS)

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The Miami VA Healthcare System’s mission is to honor American's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. As a responsible member of the communities in which we serve Veterans, we understand our facilities must operate in a manner that protects the environment and the health and safety of our patients, employees, visitors and communities.

The Miami VA Healthcare System is committed to reducing environment risk factors and associated expenses at all its facilities by focusing on pollution prevention, resource reduction strategies, environmental compliance, waste reduction and continuous improvement of its environmental program.

In 2005, the Miami VA Healthcare System started the Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) program – according to Presidential Executive Order 13148 requirements and guidance provided by the Veterans Health Administration. Subsequent related Executive Orders have been issued, generally building on the concepts of the original EO further defining goals to make VA more environmentally friendly. The Miami VA Healthcare System has a GEMS manager and a GEMS committee that meet regularly to discuss environmental goals and review environmental impacts throughout the health care system.

The Miami VA Healthcare System is committed to the following actions:

  • Be a good steward of the environment by complying with federal, state and local environmental laws and other requirements, preventing pollution, minimizing waste, conserving cultural and natural resources and continually improving environmental programs.
  • Utilize sustainable practices to eliminate, minimize or mitigate adverse environmental impacts.
  • Integrate pollution prevention, waste minimization, resource conservation into operations, whenever practical.
  • Use natural resources efficiently and maintain a policy of protecting plant and wildlife habitats.
  • Consider the unique conditions of the environment during development and construction of the Miami VA Healthcare System’s facilities.
  • Train our staff, as needed, to carry out the environmental responsibilities of their positions.
  • Solicit input, as appropriate, from stakeholders, including staff, patients, visitors and local communities regarding environmental matters affecting our facilities’ operations.

For additional information about the Miami VA Healthcare System’s GEMS program, please contact O.J. Carlo, GEMS coordinator, at 305-575-7000, ext. 16931, or at Odniel.Carlo@va.gov.

 

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