GEMS Keeps Our VA Clean While Becoming More Green
The Green Environmental Management System earned the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center four awards this past year.
Located within the Safety Department, the Detroit VA Healthcare System’s Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) handles the coordination of programs allowing for increased sustainability throughout the Detroit VA Healthcare System.
Commitment ranges across the Detroit VA to improve GEMS practices throughout the organization and contribute to environmental sustainability.
The Logistics Department has adapted a Green Purchase policy, which requires that all new purchases must have a percentage of recycled content material in their manufacture and considers materials that have a bio-based component as compared to petroleum-based products.
The dialysis process has also evolved, historically using 90% water waste and 10% for clinical use. Today, their system uses 90% of the water to only 10% water waste, with plans in progress to use the 10% waste in a different way throughout the facility. The pharmacy has reduced their waste by 1/3, from 15,000 lbs. of pharmacy waste to 5000 lbs.
“I like to say, we didn't inherit the world from our grandparents, we are borrowing it from our children,” said Esam Alnajjar, a safety and occupational health manager at the Detroit VA Healthcare System. “So, we need to make sure that we give the best possible environment and earth to our children.”
GEMS has earned the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center four awards this year, through Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards. They earned multiple Circles of Excellence awards, including the Chemicals Circle, the Green Building Circle, and the Water Circle. GEMS also earned the Greenhealth Emerald award, recognizing the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
Last year, the Detroit VA was awarded five awards including Practice Greenhealth’s Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award, an award for the top hospitals in the country committed to all-around sustainability.
“I am grateful to all who have contributed to the sustainability efforts of the Detroit VA,” said Chris Cauley the Detroit VA Healthcare System’s executive director. “We will continue the development in sustainability of our processes, until we feel satisfied that our facility is as green as possible.”