VHA Office of Emergency Management: About VHA OEM

As part of the realignment of the Veterans Health Administration, effective March 27, 2011, the VHA Office of Emergency Management (VHA OEM) - formerly the Emergency Management Strategic Health Care Group (EMSHG)) moved from the Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards to the Office of the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health (ADUSH) for Administrative Operations, within the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management (10N).  EMSHG's new name will be the Office of Emergency Management.

The Emergency Management Strategic Health Care Group (EMSHG) is the program office for the Veterans Health Administration’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP). Located in Martinsburg, WV on the Martinsburg VAMC campus, EMSHG has a total of 97 staff including 18 at the headquarters in Martinsburg and 79 who are out-based throughout the United States.

Mission Statement

As VHA’s program office for the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP) the Emergency Management Strategic Health Care Group (EMSHG) serves America’s veterans by assuring mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities focus on continuity of veterans care in the event of emergencies and disasters. EMSHG also assures the execution of VA’s “Fourth Mission” to improve the Nation’s preparedness for response to war, terrorism, national emergencies, and natural disasters by developing plans and taking actions to ensure continued service to veterans, as well as to support national, state, and local emergency management, public health, safety and homeland security efforts.

Vision Statement

To be the nation’s leader in medical comprehensive emergency management services.